Men's pants and shorts priced at$20 in 1999$20.42 in 2026

Men's Pants And Shorts Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Men's Pants And Shorts, 1999-2026 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for men's pants and shorts are 2.12% higher in 2026 versus 1999 (a $0.42 difference in value).

Between 1999 and 2026:Men's pants and shorts experienced an average inflation rate of 0.08% per year. In other words, men's pants and shorts costing $20 in the year 1999 would cost $20.42 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.50% during this same period, inflation for men's pants and shorts was lower.

In the year 1999: Pricing changed by 0.36%, which is above the average yearly change for men's pants and shorts during the 1999-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1999 (2.19%), inflation for men's pants and shorts was lower.

Price Inflation for Men's pants and shorts since 1977

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2021 (7.15%), 1981 (5.97%), and 2003 (-5.91%).

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Buying power of $20.00 since 1999

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Men's pants and shorts, over time, for $20 beginning in 1999. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1999$20.000.36%
2000$19.64-1.82%
2001$18.76-4.47%
2002$18.09-3.53%
2003$17.02-5.91%
2004$16.60-2.50%
2005$16.851.52%
2006$16.51-2.01%
2007$16.43-0.49%
2008$16.761.96%
2009$16.870.67%
2010$16.42-2.63%
2011$17.154.45%
2012$18.004.96%
2013$18.140.75%
2014$18.05-0.48%
2015$18.592.98%
2016$18.05-2.89%
2017$18.01-0.22%
2018$17.80-1.17%
2019$17.65-0.83%
2020$17.680.13%
2021$18.947.15%
2022$19.191.34%
2023$20.245.45%
2024$20.561.58%
2025$21.162.91%
2026$20.42-3.46%*

* 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:

Year19771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
CPI89.20088.60088.64289.44294.78398.392100.258101.358104.775104.333107.733112.542117.225119.942124.267127.700127.225127.717127.558130.450131.533132.117132.592130.175124.350119.958112.867110.050111.725109.483108.949111.088111.827108.882113.725119.363120.257119.682123.246119.683119.414118.015117.035117.183125.564127.242134.172136.291140.256135.396

Adjust men's pants and shorts prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1999* 1999 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Men's pants and shorts was 132.592 in the year 1999 and 135.396 in 2026:

135.396 / 132.592* $20 = $20.42

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1999 has the same "purchasing power" as $20.42 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Men's pants and shorts).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Men's pants and shorts in 1977. In addition to men's pants and shorts, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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