According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for nondurables less food are 1,265.01% higher in 2026 versus 1940 (a $253 difference in value).
Between 1940 and 2026:Nondurables less food experienced an average inflation rate of 3.09% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, nondurables less food costing $20 in the year 1940 would cost $273 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.72% during this same period, inflation for nondurables less food was lower.
In the year 1940: Pricing changed by 1.25%, which is below the average yearly change for nondurables less food during the 1940-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1940 (0.72%), inflation for nondurables less food was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Nondurables less food, over time, for $20 beginning in 1940. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | $20.00 | 1.25% |
| 1941 | $20.65 | 3.27% |
| 1942 | $22.96 | 11.17% |
| 1943 | $23.93 | 4.23% |
| 1944 | $25.15 | 5.09% |
| 1945 | $26.06 | 3.62% |
| 1946 | $27.73 | 6.42% |
| 1947 | $32.03 | 15.49% |
| 1948 | $34.62 | 8.10% |
| 1949 | $34.23 | -1.14% |
| 1950 | $33.86 | -1.07% |
| 1951 | $36.46 | 7.66% |
| 1952 | $36.79 | 0.92% |
| 1953 | $37.06 | 0.73% |
| 1954 | $37.26 | 0.53% |
| 1955 | $37.26 | 0.00% ** |
| 1956 | $38.05 | 2.13% |
| 1957 | $39.12 | 2.81% |
| 1958 | $39.38 | 0.66% |
| 1959 | $39.86 | 1.23% |
| 1960 | $40.47 | 1.52% |
| 1961 | $40.71 | 0.61% |
| 1962 | $40.94 | 0.56% |
| 1963 | $41.36 | 1.02% |
| 1964 | $41.73 | 0.91% |
| 1965 | $42.31 | 1.38% |
| 1966 | $43.30 | 2.34% |
| 1967 | $44.63 | 3.09% |
| 1968 | $46.45 | 4.06% |
| 1969 | $48.53 | 4.50% |
| 1970 | $50.51 | 4.08% |
| 1971 | $52.23 | 3.39% |
| 1972 | $53.50 | 2.43% |
| 1973 | $55.66 | 4.05% |
| 1974 | $62.90 | 13.00% |
| 1975 | $67.70 | 7.63% |
| 1976 | $70.64 | 4.34% |
| 1977 | $74.32 | 5.20% |
| 1978 | $77.81 | 4.70% |
| 1979 | $88.66 | 13.95% |
| 1980 | $104.98 | 18.40% |
| 1981 | $114.91 | 9.46% |
| 1982 | $116.73 | 1.59% |
| 1983 | $118.85 | 1.82% |
| 1984 | $120.85 | 1.68% |
| 1985 | $123.70 | 2.36% |
| 1986 | $117.03 | -5.39% |
| 1987 | $120.91 | 3.32% |
| 1988 | $125.71 | 3.97% |
| 1989 | $132.75 | 5.60% |
| 1990 | $142.41 | 7.27% |
| 1991 | $147.92 | 3.87% |
| 1992 | $151.59 | 2.48% |
| 1993 | $153.61 | 1.33% |
| 1994 | $154.09 | 0.31% |
| 1995 | $155.49 | 0.91% |
| 1996 | $159.74 | 2.74% |
| 1997 | $161.94 | 1.38% |
| 1998 | $159.90 | -1.26% |
| 1999 | $165.67 | 3.61% |
| 2000 | $177.13 | 6.91% |
| 2001 | $177.18 | 0.03% |
| 2002 | $175.11 | -1.17% |
| 2003 | $180.48 | 3.06% |
| 2004 | $189.24 | 4.86% |
| 2005 | $202.04 | 6.77% |
| 2006 | $211.66 | 4.76% |
| 2007 | $218.63 | 3.29% |
| 2008 | $234.41 | 7.22% |
| 2009 | $215.59 | -8.03% |
| 2010 | $228.03 | 5.77% |
| 2011 | $249.05 | 9.22% |
| 2012 | $255.39 | 2.55% |
| 2013 | $253.79 | -0.63% |
| 2014 | $251.52 | -0.89% |
| 2015 | $228.53 | -9.14% |
| 2016 | $222.41 | -2.68% |
| 2017 | $230.23 | 3.52% |
| 2018 | $239.90 | 4.20% |
| 2019 | $237.32 | -1.07% |
| 2020 | $225.42 | -5.02% |
| 2021 | $247.40 | 9.75% |
| 2022 | $281.12 | 13.63% |
| 2023 | $277.90 | -1.14% |
| 2024 | $275.99 | -0.69% |
| 2025 | $274.37 | -0.59% |
| 2026 | $273.00 | -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:
| 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 | 16.170 | 16.317 | 16.908 | 16.942 | 16.625 | 16.833 | 17.383 | 19.325 | 20.142 | 21.167 | 21.933 | 23.342 | 26.958 | 29.142 | 28.808 | 28.500 | 30.683 | 30.967 | 31.192 | 31.358 | 31.358 | 32.025 | 32.925 | 33.142 | 33.550 | 34.058 | 34.267 | 34.458 | 34.808 | 35.125 | 35.608 | 36.442 | 37.567 | 39.092 | 40.850 | 42.517 | 43.958 | 45.025 | 46.850 | 52.942 | 56.983 | 59.458 | 62.550 | 65.492 | 74.625 | 88.358 | 96.717 | 98.250 | 100.033 | 101.717 | 104.117 | 98.500 | 101.767 | 105.808 | 111.733 | 119.858 | 124.500 | 127.592 | 129.292 | 129.692 | 130.867 | 134.450 | 136.300 | 134.583 | 139.442 | 149.083 | 149.125 | 147.383 | 151.900 | 159.275 | 170.050 | 178.150 | 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 | 232.288 | 230.927 | 229.777 |