According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for men's pants and shorts are 54.19% higher in 2024 versus 1978 (a $10.84 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2024: Men's pants and shorts experienced an average inflation rate of 0.95% per year. In other words, men's pants and shorts costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $30.84 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for men's pants and shorts was lower.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by -0.67%, which is below the average yearly change for men's pants and shorts during the 1978-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for men's pants and shorts was much lower.
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 | -0.67% |
| 1979 | $20.01 | 0.05% |
| 1980 | $20.19 | 0.90% |
| 1981 | $21.40 | 5.97% |
| 1982 | $22.21 | 3.81% |
| 1983 | $22.63 | 1.90% |
| 1984 | $22.88 | 1.09% |
| 1985 | $23.65 | 3.38% |
| 1986 | $23.55 | -0.42% |
| 1987 | $24.32 | 3.26% |
| 1988 | $25.40 | 4.46% |
| 1989 | $26.46 | 4.16% |
| 1990 | $27.07 | 2.32% |
| 1991 | $28.05 | 3.61% |
| 1992 | $28.83 | 2.76% |
| 1993 | $28.72 | -0.37% |
| 1994 | $28.83 | 0.39% |
| 1995 | $28.79 | -0.12% |
| 1996 | $29.45 | 2.27% |
| 1997 | $29.69 | 0.83% |
| 1998 | $29.82 | 0.44% |
| 1999 | $29.93 | 0.36% |
| 2000 | $29.39 | -1.82% |
| 2001 | $28.07 | -4.47% |
| 2002 | $27.08 | -3.53% |
| 2003 | $25.48 | -5.91% |
| 2004 | $24.84 | -2.49% |
| 2005 | $25.22 | 1.52% |
| 2006 | $24.71 | -2.00% |
| 2007 | $24.59 | -0.49% |
| 2008 | $25.08 | 1.96% |
| 2009 | $25.24 | 0.67% |
| 2010 | $24.58 | -2.63% |
| 2011 | $25.67 | 4.45% |
| 2012 | $26.94 | 4.96% |
| 2013 | $27.15 | 0.75% |
| 2014 | $27.02 | -0.48% |
| 2015 | $27.82 | 2.98% |
| 2016 | $27.02 | -2.89% |
| 2017 | $26.96 | -0.22% |
| 2018 | $26.64 | -1.17% |
| 2019 | $26.42 | -0.83% |
| 2020 | $26.45 | 0.13% |
| 2021 | $28.34 | 7.15% |
| 2022 | $28.72 | 1.34% |
| 2023 | $30.29 | 5.45% |
| 2024 | $30.84 | 1.82%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Men's pants and shorts:
| Year | 1977 | 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 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| CPI | 89.200 | 88.600 | 88.646 | 89.446 | 94.785 | 98.392 | 100.262 | 101.354 | 104.777 | 104.338 | 107.738 | 112.538 | 117.223 | 119.938 | 124.269 | 127.700 | 127.223 | 127.715 | 127.562 | 130.454 | 131.531 | 132.115 | 132.592 | 130.177 | 124.354 | 119.962 | 112.869 | 110.054 | 111.723 | 109.485 | 108.949 | 111.088 | 111.827 | 108.883 | 113.725 | 119.363 | 120.257 | 119.682 | 123.246 | 119.683 | 119.415 | 118.015 | 117.035 | 117.183 | 125.564 | 127.242 | 134.172 | 136.614 |