According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for nondurables less food and apparel are 1,820.93% higher in 2024 versus 1938 (a $364.19 difference in value).
Between 1938 and 2024: Nondurables less food and apparel experienced an average inflation rate of 3.50% 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 $384.19 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.67% during this same period, inflation for nondurables less food and apparel was lower.
In the year 1938: Pricing changed by -0.39%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for nondurables less food and apparel during the 1938-2024 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 | -0.39% |
| 1939 | $19.76 | -1.18% |
| 1940 | $19.95 | 0.93% |
| 1941 | $20.73 | 3.93% |
| 1942 | $21.91 | 5.67% |
| 1943 | $22.77 | 3.94% |
| 1944 | $23.32 | 2.41% |
| 1945 | $23.82 | 2.13% |
| 1946 | $25.05 | 5.16% |
| 1947 | $28.44 | 13.57% |
| 1948 | $30.98 | 8.92% |
| 1949 | $30.88 | -0.34% |
| 1950 | $31.22 | 1.10% |
| 1951 | $33.12 | 6.11% |
| 1952 | $33.70 | 1.74% |
| 1953 | $34.61 | 2.72% |
| 1954 | $34.90 | 0.83% |
| 1955 | $35.03 | 0.37% |
| 1956 | $35.89 | 2.44% |
| 1957 | $37.25 | 3.81% |
| 1958 | $37.68 | 1.13% |
| 1959 | $38.18 | 1.33% |
| 1960 | $38.77 | 1.55% |
| 1961 | $38.96 | 0.49% |
| 1962 | $39.28 | 0.80% |
| 1963 | $39.69 | 1.05% |
| 1964 | $40.06 | 0.94% |
| 1965 | $40.72 | 1.66% |
| 1966 | $41.61 | 2.17% |
| 1967 | $42.66 | 2.54% |
| 1968 | $44.01 | 3.16% |
| 1969 | $45.63 | 3.68% |
| 1970 | $47.42 | 3.92% |
| 1971 | $49.14 | 3.63% |
| 1972 | $50.44 | 2.64% |
| 1973 | $52.65 | 4.39% |
| 1974 | $61.35 | 16.52% |
| 1975 | $67.33 | 9.75% |
| 1976 | $70.68 | 4.97% |
| 1977 | $74.77 | 5.79% |
| 1978 | $78.89 | 5.51% |
| 1979 | $93.05 | 17.95% |
| 1980 | $113.92 | 22.42% |
| 1981 | $126.51 | 11.05% |
| 1982 | $128.44 | 1.53% |
| 1983 | $130.70 | 1.76% |
| 1984 | $133.04 | 1.79% |
| 1985 | $136.15 | 2.34% |
| 1986 | $126.74 | -6.91% |
| 1987 | $131.04 | 3.40% |
| 1988 | $135.97 | 3.76% |
| 1989 | $145.54 | 7.04% |
| 1990 | $158.07 | 8.61% |
| 1991 | $164.36 | 3.98% |
| 1992 | $168.50 | 2.51% |
| 1993 | $170.86 | 1.40% |
| 1994 | $171.97 | 0.65% |
| 1995 | $175.24 | 1.91% |
| 1996 | $182.38 | 4.07% |
| 1997 | $185.36 | 1.63% |
| 1998 | $181.93 | -1.85% |
| 1999 | $192.75 | 5.95% |
| 2000 | $212.96 | 10.49% |
| 2001 | $214.56 | 0.75% |
| 2002 | $213.49 | -0.50% |
| 2003 | $224.93 | 5.36% |
| 2004 | $240.30 | 6.84% |
| 2005 | $262.96 | 9.43% |
| 2006 | $279.60 | 6.33% |
| 2007 | $292.04 | 4.45% |
| 2008 | $319.53 | 9.41% |
| 2009 | $285.87 | -10.54% |
| 2010 | $307.98 | 7.73% |
| 2011 | $342.64 | 11.26% |
| 2012 | $350.56 | 2.31% |
| 2013 | $346.93 | -1.03% |
| 2014 | $342.92 | -1.16% |
| 2015 | $304.16 | -11.30% |
| 2016 | $293.43 | -3.53% |
| 2017 | $307.25 | 4.71% |
| 2018 | $323.93 | 5.43% |
| 2019 | $320.63 | -1.02% |
| 2020 | $304.31 | -5.09% |
| 2021 | $340.31 | 11.83% |
| 2022 | $394.19 | 15.83% |
| 2023 | $386.14 | -2.04% |
| 2024 | $384.19 | -0.50%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 14.800 | 14.983 | 15.360 | 15.300 | 15.120 | 15.260 | 15.860 | 16.760 | 17.420 | 17.840 | 18.220 | 19.160 | 21.760 | 23.700 | 23.620 | 23.880 | 25.340 | 25.780 | 26.480 | 26.700 | 26.800 | 27.454 | 28.500 | 28.823 | 29.208 | 29.662 | 29.808 | 30.046 | 30.362 | 30.646 | 31.154 | 31.831 | 32.638 | 33.669 | 34.908 | 36.277 | 37.592 | 38.585 | 40.277 | 46.931 | 51.508 | 54.069 | 57.200 | 60.354 | 71.185 | 87.146 | 96.777 | 98.254 | 99.985 | 101.777 | 104.154 | 96.954 | 100.246 | 104.015 | 111.338 | 120.923 | 125.738 | 128.900 | 130.708 | 131.554 | 134.062 | 139.523 | 141.800 | 139.177 | 147.454 | 162.915 | 164.138 | 163.323 | 172.069 | 183.831 | 201.162 | 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 | 293.903 |