Nondurables price inflation, 1972→2026

Nondurables Inflation Calculator

Prices for Nondurables, 1972-2026 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for nondurables are 544.87% higher in 2026 versus 1972 (a $108.97 difference in value).

Between 1972 and 2026:Nondurables experienced an average inflation rate of 3.51% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, nondurables costing $20 in the year 1972 would cost $128.97 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.87% during this same period, inflation for nondurables was lower.

In the year 1972: Pricing changed by 3.31%, which is below the average yearly change for nondurables during the 1972-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1972 (3.27%), inflation for nondurables was higher.

Price Inflation for Nondurables since 1935

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1947 (22.08%), 1942 (14.76%), and 1974 (13.67%).

View price changes for other categories
Educational books and supplies · College tuition and fees · Wireless telephone services · New trucks · More

Buying power of $20.00 since 1972

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Nondurables, over time, for $20 beginning in 1972. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1972	$20.00	3.31%
1973	$21.84	9.20%
1974	$24.83	13.67%
1975	$26.83	8.07%
1976	$27.82	3.69%
1977	$29.42	5.75%
1978	$31.58	7.35%
1979	$35.50	12.42%
1980	$40.28	13.47%
1981	$43.78	8.69%
1982	$44.99	2.77%
1983	$45.87	1.94%
1984	$47.12	2.72%
1985	$48.21	2.32%
1986	$47.61	-1.25%
1987	$49.43	3.83%
1988	$51.43	4.05%
1989	$54.37	5.70%
1990	$57.96	6.61%
1991	$59.94	3.41%
1992	$61.06	1.87%
1993	$62.12	1.73%
1994	$62.93	1.30%
1995	$64.09	1.85%
1996	$66.01	3.00%
1997	$67.31	1.97%
1998	$67.59	0.40%
1999	$69.54	2.89%
2000	$72.74	4.61%
2001	$73.85	1.52%
2002	$74.08	0.31%
2003	$76.01	2.61%
2004	$79.18	4.17%
2005	$82.89	4.68%
2006	$85.89	3.62%
2007	$88.98	3.61%
2008	$94.70	6.43%
2009	$91.32	-3.57%
2010	$94.41	3.39%
2011	$100.75	6.71%
2012	$103.31	2.54%
2013	$103.61	0.29%
2014	$104.25	0.62%
2015	$100.10	-3.99%
2016	$98.88	-1.22%
2017	$101.01	2.16%
2018	$103.88	2.83%
2019	$104.24	0.35%
2020	$103.48	-0.74%
2021	$110.38	6.67%
2022	$123.33	11.73%
2023	$126.24	2.36%
2024	$127.31	0.85%
2025	$128.79	1.17%
2026	$128.97	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

Adjust nondurables prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1972* 1972 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Nondurables was 43.483 in the year 1972 and 280.413 in 2026:

280.413 / 43.483* $20 = $128.97

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1972 has the same "purchasing power" as $128.97 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Nondurables).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Nondurables in 1935. In addition to nondurables, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.