According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for men's pants and shorts are 44.50% higher in 2024 versus 1981 (a $8.90 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2024: Men's pants and shorts experienced an average inflation rate of 0.86% per year. In other words, men's pants and shorts costing $20 in the year 1981 would cost $28.90 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.92% during this same period, inflation for men's pants and shorts was lower.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 5.97%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for men's pants and shorts during the 1981-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), 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 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $20.00 | 5.97% |
| 1982 | $20.76 | 3.81% |
| 1983 | $21.16 | 1.90% |
| 1984 | $21.39 | 1.09% |
| 1985 | $22.11 | 3.38% |
| 1986 | $22.02 | -0.42% |
| 1987 | $22.73 | 3.26% |
| 1988 | $23.75 | 4.46% |
| 1989 | $24.73 | 4.16% |
| 1990 | $25.31 | 2.32% |
| 1991 | $26.22 | 3.61% |
| 1992 | $26.95 | 2.76% |
| 1993 | $26.84 | -0.37% |
| 1994 | $26.95 | 0.39% |
| 1995 | $26.92 | -0.12% |
| 1996 | $27.53 | 2.27% |
| 1997 | $27.75 | 0.83% |
| 1998 | $27.88 | 0.44% |
| 1999 | $27.98 | 0.36% |
| 2000 | $27.47 | -1.82% |
| 2001 | $26.24 | -4.47% |
| 2002 | $25.31 | -3.53% |
| 2003 | $23.82 | -5.91% |
| 2004 | $23.22 | -2.49% |
| 2005 | $23.57 | 1.52% |
| 2006 | $23.10 | -2.00% |
| 2007 | $22.99 | -0.49% |
| 2008 | $23.44 | 1.96% |
| 2009 | $23.60 | 0.67% |
| 2010 | $22.97 | -2.63% |
| 2011 | $24.00 | 4.45% |
| 2012 | $25.19 | 4.96% |
| 2013 | $25.37 | 0.75% |
| 2014 | $25.25 | -0.48% |
| 2015 | $26.01 | 2.98% |
| 2016 | $25.25 | -2.89% |
| 2017 | $25.20 | -0.22% |
| 2018 | $24.90 | -1.17% |
| 2019 | $24.69 | -0.83% |
| 2020 | $24.73 | 0.13% |
| 2021 | $26.49 | 7.15% |
| 2022 | $26.85 | 1.34% |
| 2023 | $28.31 | 5.45% |
| 2024 | $28.90 | 2.08%* |
* 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 | 136.959 |