According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for nondurables are 1,892.28% higher in 2026 versus 1938 (a $378.46 difference in value).
Between 1938 and 2026:Nondurables experienced an average inflation rate of 3.46% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, nondurables costing $20 in the year 1938 would cost $398.46 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.63% during this same period, inflation for nondurables was lower.
In the year 1938: Pricing changed by -3.76%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for nondurables during the 1938-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1938 (-2.03%), inflation for nondurables was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Nondurables, 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 | -3.76% |
| 1939 | $19.48 | -2.61% |
| 1940 | $19.67 | 0.97% |
| 1941 | $20.86 | 6.08% |
| 1942 | $23.94 | 14.76% |
| 1943 | $26.23 | 9.55% |
| 1944 | $26.47 | 0.90% |
| 1945 | $27.18 | 2.68% |
| 1946 | $29.71 | 9.32% |
| 1947 | $36.27 | 22.08% |
| 1948 | $39.18 | 8.03% |
| 1949 | $38.19 | -2.54% |
| 1950 | $38.03 | -0.40% |
| 1951 | $41.63 | 9.46% |
| 1952 | $42.39 | 1.82% |
| 1953 | $42.31 | -0.20% |
| 1954 | $42.26 | -0.11% |
| 1955 | $41.97 | -0.70% |
| 1956 | $42.53 | 1.35% |
| 1957 | $43.86 | 3.12% |
| 1958 | $44.99 | 2.56% |
| 1959 | $44.84 | -0.32% |
| 1960 | $45.39 | 1.21% |
| 1961 | $45.81 | 0.94% |
| 1962 | $46.18 | 0.80% |
| 1963 | $46.76 | 1.26% |
| 1964 | $47.24 | 1.01% |
| 1965 | $48.09 | 1.80% |
| 1966 | $49.84 | 3.64% |
| 1967 | $50.81 | 1.95% |
| 1968 | $52.78 | 3.87% |
| 1969 | $55.31 | 4.80% |
| 1970 | $57.95 | 4.77% |
| 1971 | $59.81 | 3.21% |
| 1972 | $61.79 | 3.31% |
| 1973 | $67.47 | 9.20% |
| 1974 | $76.70 | 13.67% |
| 1975 | $82.89 | 8.07% |
| 1976 | $85.94 | 3.69% |
| 1977 | $90.88 | 5.75% |
| 1978 | $97.56 | 7.35% |
| 1979 | $109.67 | 12.42% |
| 1980 | $124.45 | 13.47% |
| 1981 | $135.26 | 8.69% |
| 1982 | $139.01 | 2.77% |
| 1983 | $141.71 | 1.94% |
| 1984 | $145.57 | 2.72% |
| 1985 | $148.94 | 2.32% |
| 1986 | $147.08 | -1.25% |
| 1987 | $152.72 | 3.83% |
| 1988 | $158.90 | 4.05% |
| 1989 | $167.96 | 5.70% |
| 1990 | $179.06 | 6.61% |
| 1991 | $185.17 | 3.41% |
| 1992 | $188.64 | 1.87% |
| 1993 | $191.91 | 1.73% |
| 1994 | $194.41 | 1.30% |
| 1995 | $198.00 | 1.85% |
| 1996 | $203.93 | 3.00% |
| 1997 | $207.96 | 1.97% |
| 1998 | $208.80 | 0.40% |
| 1999 | $214.83 | 2.89% |
| 2000 | $224.72 | 4.61% |
| 2001 | $228.15 | 1.52% |
| 2002 | $228.86 | 0.31% |
| 2003 | $234.84 | 2.61% |
| 2004 | $244.63 | 4.17% |
| 2005 | $256.07 | 4.68% |
| 2006 | $265.34 | 3.62% |
| 2007 | $274.91 | 3.61% |
| 2008 | $292.58 | 6.43% |
| 2009 | $282.13 | -3.57% |
| 2010 | $291.68 | 3.39% |
| 2011 | $311.26 | 6.71% |
| 2012 | $319.18 | 2.54% |
| 2013 | $320.10 | 0.29% |
| 2014 | $322.08 | 0.62% |
| 2015 | $309.23 | -3.99% |
| 2016 | $305.47 | -1.22% |
| 2017 | $312.07 | 2.16% |
| 2018 | $320.91 | 2.83% |
| 2019 | $322.05 | 0.35% |
| 2020 | $319.68 | -0.74% |
| 2021 | $341.00 | 6.67% |
| 2022 | $381.01 | 11.73% |
| 2023 | $390.00 | 2.36% |
| 2024 | $393.30 | 0.85% |
| 2025 | $397.88 | 1.17% |
| 2026 | $398.46 | 0.14%* |
* 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:
| 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 | 13.900 | 14.150 | 14.625 | 14.075 | 13.708 | 13.842 | 14.683 | 16.850 | 18.458 | 18.625 | 19.125 | 20.908 | 25.525 | 27.575 | 26.875 | 26.767 | 29.300 | 29.833 | 29.775 | 29.742 | 29.533 | 29.933 | 30.867 | 31.658 | 31.558 | 31.942 | 32.242 | 32.500 | 32.908 | 33.242 | 33.842 | 35.075 | 35.758 | 37.142 | 38.925 | 40.783 | 42.092 | 43.483 | 47.483 | 53.975 | 58.333 | 60.483 | 63.958 | 68.658 | 77.183 | 87.583 | 95.192 | 97.825 | 99.725 | 102.442 | 104.817 | 103.508 | 107.475 | 111.825 | 118.200 | 126.017 | 130.317 | 132.758 | 135.058 | 136.817 | 139.342 | 143.517 | 146.350 | 146.942 | 151.183 | 158.150 | 160.558 | 161.058 | 165.267 | 172.158 | 180.208 | 186.733 | 193.468 | 205.901 | 198.548 | 205.271 | 219.049 | 224.621 | 225.271 | 226.662 | 217.624 | 214.973 | 219.620 | 225.843 | 226.642 | 224.974 | 239.982 | 268.138 | 274.459 | 276.786 | 280.011 | 280.413 |