According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for nondurables less food are 1,279.90% higher in 2024 versus 1938 (a $255.98 difference in value).
Between 1938 and 2024: Nondurables less food experienced an average inflation rate of 3.10% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, nondurables less food costing $20 in the year 1938 would cost $275.98 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.67% during this same period, inflation for nondurables less food was lower.
In the year 1938: Pricing changed by -0.82%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for nondurables less food during the 1938-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1938 (-2.03%), inflation for nondurables less food was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Nondurables less food, 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 | -0.82% |
| 1939 | $19.69 | -1.54% |
| 1940 | $19.95 | 1.32% |
| 1941 | $20.88 | 4.63% |
| 1942 | $23.10 | 10.67% |
| 1943 | $24.05 | 4.10% |
| 1944 | $25.24 | 4.93% |
| 1945 | $26.11 | 3.47% |
| 1946 | $28.27 | 8.26% |
| 1947 | $32.37 | 14.50% |
| 1948 | $34.76 | 7.39% |
| 1949 | $33.89 | -2.52% |
| 1950 | $34.03 | 0.42% |
| 1951 | $36.59 | 7.52% |
| 1952 | $36.68 | 0.26% |
| 1953 | $37.04 | 0.97% |
| 1954 | $37.13 | 0.26% |
| 1955 | $37.23 | 0.26% |
| 1956 | $37.94 | 1.92% |
| 1957 | $39.01 | 2.81% |
| 1958 | $39.26 | 0.65% |
| 1959 | $39.75 | 1.23% |
| 1960 | $40.36 | 1.54% |
| 1961 | $40.60 | 0.61% |
| 1962 | $40.83 | 0.56% |
| 1963 | $41.24 | 1.00% |
| 1964 | $41.62 | 0.91% |
| 1965 | $42.19 | 1.38% |
| 1966 | $43.17 | 2.33% |
| 1967 | $44.51 | 3.10% |
| 1968 | $46.32 | 4.05% |
| 1969 | $48.41 | 4.51% |
| 1970 | $50.37 | 4.07% |
| 1971 | $52.09 | 3.40% |
| 1972 | $53.34 | 2.41% |
| 1973 | $55.51 | 4.07% |
| 1974 | $62.72 | 12.99% |
| 1975 | $67.52 | 7.64% |
| 1976 | $70.45 | 4.35% |
| 1977 | $74.11 | 5.19% |
| 1978 | $77.60 | 4.71% |
| 1979 | $88.42 | 13.94% |
| 1980 | $104.69 | 18.41% |
| 1981 | $114.59 | 9.45% |
| 1982 | $116.41 | 1.59% |
| 1983 | $118.52 | 1.81% |
| 1984 | $120.52 | 1.68% |
| 1985 | $123.36 | 2.36% |
| 1986 | $116.71 | -5.39% |
| 1987 | $120.58 | 3.32% |
| 1988 | $125.36 | 3.97% |
| 1989 | $132.38 | 5.60% |
| 1990 | $142.02 | 7.28% |
| 1991 | $147.51 | 3.87% |
| 1992 | $151.18 | 2.48% |
| 1993 | $153.19 | 1.33% |
| 1994 | $153.66 | 0.31% |
| 1995 | $155.06 | 0.91% |
| 1996 | $159.31 | 2.74% |
| 1997 | $161.49 | 1.37% |
| 1998 | $159.46 | -1.26% |
| 1999 | $165.21 | 3.61% |
| 2000 | $176.64 | 6.92% |
| 2001 | $176.69 | 0.03% |
| 2002 | $174.63 | -1.17% |
| 2003 | $179.98 | 3.06% |
| 2004 | $188.72 | 4.86% |
| 2005 | $201.49 | 6.77% |
| 2006 | $211.08 | 4.76% |
| 2007 | $218.02 | 3.29% |
| 2008 | $233.76 | 7.22% |
| 2009 | $214.99 | -8.03% |
| 2010 | $227.40 | 5.77% |
| 2011 | $248.36 | 9.22% |
| 2012 | $254.68 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $253.09 | -0.63% |
| 2014 | $250.82 | -0.89% |
| 2015 | $227.90 | -9.14% |
| 2016 | $221.79 | -2.68% |
| 2017 | $229.59 | 3.52% |
| 2018 | $239.24 | 4.20% |
| 2019 | $236.67 | -1.07% |
| 2020 | $224.80 | -5.02% |
| 2021 | $246.72 | 9.75% |
| 2022 | $280.34 | 13.63% |
| 2023 | $277.13 | -1.14% |
| 2024 | $275.98 | -0.42%* |
* 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:
| 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 | 16.175 | 16.333 | 17.020 | 16.880 | 16.620 | 16.840 | 17.620 | 19.500 | 20.300 | 21.300 | 22.040 | 23.860 | 27.320 | 29.340 | 28.600 | 28.720 | 30.880 | 30.960 | 31.260 | 31.340 | 31.420 | 32.023 | 32.923 | 33.138 | 33.546 | 34.062 | 34.269 | 34.462 | 34.808 | 35.123 | 35.608 | 36.438 | 37.569 | 39.092 | 40.854 | 42.515 | 43.962 | 45.023 | 46.854 | 52.938 | 56.985 | 59.462 | 62.546 | 65.492 | 74.623 | 88.362 | 96.715 | 98.254 | 100.031 | 101.715 | 104.115 | 98.500 | 101.769 | 105.808 | 111.731 | 119.862 | 124.500 | 127.592 | 129.292 | 129.692 | 130.869 | 134.454 | 136.300 | 134.585 | 139.438 | 149.085 | 149.123 | 147.385 | 151.900 | 159.277 | 170.054 | 178.154 | 184.012 | 197.297 | 181.453 | 191.927 | 209.615 | 214.954 | 213.604 | 211.693 | 192.345 | 187.194 | 193.775 | 201.916 | 199.748 | 189.731 | 208.232 | 236.607 | 233.902 | 232.927 |