According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for men's pants and shorts were 38.43% higher in 2020 versus 1978 (a $7.69 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2020: Men's pants and shorts experienced an average inflation rate of 0.78% per year. In other words, men's pants and shorts costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $27.69 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.33% during this same period, inflation for men's pants and shorts was lower.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Men's pants and shorts:
| Year | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 |
| CPI | 88.592 | 88.608 | 89.425 | 94.792 | 98.400 | 100.267 | 101.375 | 104.808 | 104.367 | 107.742 | 112.542 | 117.225 | 119.950 | 124.250 | 127.725 | 127.250 | 127.767 | 127.600 | 130.475 | 131.567 | 132.150 | 132.625 | 130.183 | 124.367 | 119.933 | 112.842 | 110.050 | 111.717 | 109.475 | 108.997 | 111.135 | 111.820 | 108.874 | 113.746 | 119.370 | 120.251 | 119.696 | 123.262 | 119.685 | 119.428 | 117.994 | 117.033 | 122.641 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Men's pants and shorts, over time, for $20 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | - |
| 1979 | $20.00 | 0.02% |
| 1980 | $20.19 | 0.92% |
| 1981 | $21.40 | 6.00% |
| 1982 | $22.21 | 3.81% |
| 1983 | $22.64 | 1.90% |
| 1984 | $22.89 | 1.11% |
| 1985 | $23.66 | 3.39% |
| 1986 | $23.56 | -0.42% |
| 1987 | $24.32 | 3.23% |
| 1988 | $25.41 | 4.46% |
| 1989 | $26.46 | 4.16% |
| 1990 | $27.08 | 2.32% |
| 1991 | $28.05 | 3.58% |
| 1992 | $28.83 | 2.80% |
| 1993 | $28.73 | -0.37% |
| 1994 | $28.84 | 0.41% |
| 1995 | $28.81 | -0.13% |
| 1996 | $29.46 | 2.25% |
| 1997 | $29.70 | 0.84% |
| 1998 | $29.83 | 0.44% |
| 1999 | $29.94 | 0.36% |
| 2000 | $29.39 | -1.84% |
| 2001 | $28.08 | -4.47% |
| 2002 | $27.08 | -3.56% |
| 2003 | $25.47 | -5.91% |
| 2004 | $24.84 | -2.47% |
| 2005 | $25.22 | 1.51% |
| 2006 | $24.71 | -2.01% |
| 2007 | $24.61 | -0.44% |
| 2008 | $25.09 | 1.96% |
| 2009 | $25.24 | 0.62% |
| 2010 | $24.58 | -2.63% |
| 2011 | $25.68 | 4.47% |
| 2012 | $26.95 | 4.94% |
| 2013 | $27.15 | 0.74% |
| 2014 | $27.02 | -0.46% |
| 2015 | $27.83 | 2.98% |
| 2016 | $27.02 | -2.90% |
| 2017 | $26.96 | -0.21% |
| 2018 | $26.64 | -1.20% |
| 2019 | $26.42 | -0.81% |
| 2020 | $27.69 | 4.79%* |
