According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for nondurables less food and apparel are 1,786.73% higher in 2026 versus 1938 (a $357.35 difference in value).
Between 1938 and 2026:Nondurables less food and apparel experienced an average inflation rate of 3.39% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, nondurables less food and apparel costing $20 in the year 1938 would cost $377.35 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.63% during this same period, inflation for nondurables less food and apparel was lower.
In the year 1938: Pricing changed by 0.05%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for nondurables less food and apparel during the 1938-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1938 (-2.03%), inflation for nondurables less food and apparel was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Nondurables less food and apparel, over time, for $20 beginning in 1938. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1938 | $20.00 | 0.05% |
| 1939 | $19.71 | -1.47% |
| 1940 | $19.89 | 0.94% |
| 1941 | $20.49 | 3.01% |
| 1942 | $21.73 | 6.05% |
| 1943 | $22.58 | 3.90% |
| 1944 | $23.22 | 2.84% |
| 1945 | $23.71 | 2.11% |
| 1946 | $24.54 | 3.53% |
| 1947 | $27.93 | 13.82% |
| 1948 | $30.68 | 9.84% |
| 1949 | $30.92 | 0.78% |
| 1950 | $30.91 | -0.04% |
| 1951 | $32.89 | 6.40% |
| 1952 | $33.53 | 1.95% |
| 1953 | $34.39 | 2.56% |
| 1954 | $34.87 | 1.39% |
| 1955 | $34.87 | 0.00% ** |
| 1956 | $35.82 | 2.71% |
| 1957 | $37.17 | 3.79% |
| 1958 | $37.60 | 1.14% |
| 1959 | $38.10 | 1.33% |
| 1960 | $38.68 | 1.54% |
| 1961 | $38.88 | 0.51% |
| 1962 | $39.18 | 0.78% |
| 1963 | $39.60 | 1.05% |
| 1964 | $39.98 | 0.96% |
| 1965 | $40.63 | 1.63% |
| 1966 | $41.52 | 2.19% |
| 1967 | $42.58 | 2.54% |
| 1968 | $43.91 | 3.14% |
| 1969 | $45.53 | 3.69% |
| 1970 | $47.32 | 3.92% |
| 1971 | $49.03 | 3.63% |
| 1972 | $50.33 | 2.64% |
| 1973 | $52.53 | 4.38% |
| 1974 | $61.22 | 16.53% |
| 1975 | $67.18 | 9.75% |
| 1976 | $70.52 | 4.97% |
| 1977 | $74.61 | 5.80% |
| 1978 | $78.72 | 5.51% |
| 1979 | $92.85 | 17.95% |
| 1980 | $113.67 | 22.43% |
| 1981 | $126.23 | 11.04% |
| 1982 | $128.16 | 1.53% |
| 1983 | $130.41 | 1.76% |
| 1984 | $132.75 | 1.79% |
| 1985 | $135.86 | 2.34% |
| 1986 | $126.47 | -6.91% |
| 1987 | $130.75 | 3.39% |
| 1988 | $135.67 | 3.77% |
| 1989 | $145.23 | 7.04% |
| 1990 | $157.73 | 8.61% |
| 1991 | $164.01 | 3.98% |
| 1992 | $168.13 | 2.51% |
| 1993 | $170.49 | 1.40% |
| 1994 | $171.59 | 0.64% |
| 1995 | $174.86 | 1.91% |
| 1996 | $181.99 | 4.08% |
| 1997 | $184.96 | 1.63% |
| 1998 | $181.53 | -1.85% |
| 1999 | $192.33 | 5.95% |
| 2000 | $212.50 | 10.49% |
| 2001 | $214.10 | 0.75% |
| 2002 | $213.03 | -0.50% |
| 2003 | $224.43 | 5.35% |
| 2004 | $239.78 | 6.84% |
| 2005 | $262.38 | 9.42% |
| 2006 | $278.99 | 6.33% |
| 2007 | $291.41 | 4.45% |
| 2008 | $318.84 | 9.41% |
| 2009 | $285.24 | -10.54% |
| 2010 | $307.31 | 7.73% |
| 2011 | $341.90 | 11.26% |
| 2012 | $349.79 | 2.31% |
| 2013 | $346.18 | -1.03% |
| 2014 | $342.17 | -1.16% |
| 2015 | $303.50 | -11.30% |
| 2016 | $292.79 | -3.53% |
| 2017 | $306.58 | 4.71% |
| 2018 | $323.22 | 5.43% |
| 2019 | $319.93 | -1.02% |
| 2020 | $303.65 | -5.09% |
| 2021 | $339.57 | 11.83% |
| 2022 | $393.33 | 15.83% |
| 2023 | $385.30 | -2.04% |
| 2024 | $381.23 | -1.05% |
| 2025 | $377.99 | -0.85% |
| 2026 | $377.35 | -0.17%* |
* 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 Nondurables less food and apparel:
| Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 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 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 14.810 | 14.967 | 15.325 | 15.333 | 15.108 | 15.250 | 15.708 | 16.658 | 17.308 | 17.800 | 18.175 | 18.817 | 21.417 | 23.525 | 23.708 | 23.700 | 25.217 | 25.708 | 26.367 | 26.733 | 26.733 | 27.458 | 28.500 | 28.825 | 29.208 | 29.658 | 29.808 | 30.042 | 30.358 | 30.650 | 31.150 | 31.833 | 32.642 | 33.667 | 34.908 | 36.275 | 37.592 | 38.583 | 40.275 | 46.933 | 51.508 | 54.067 | 57.200 | 60.350 | 71.183 | 87.150 | 96.775 | 98.258 | 99.983 | 101.775 | 104.158 | 96.958 | 100.242 | 104.017 | 111.342 | 120.925 | 125.742 | 128.900 | 130.708 | 131.550 | 134.058 | 139.525 | 141.800 | 139.175 | 147.450 | 162.917 | 164.142 | 163.325 | 172.067 | 183.833 | 201.158 | 213.892 | 223.411 | 244.443 | 218.687 | 235.601 | 262.123 | 268.175 | 265.402 | 262.332 | 232.681 | 224.472 | 235.044 | 247.803 | 245.281 | 232.796 | 260.339 | 301.554 | 295.393 | 292.278 | 289.793 | 289.299 |