According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for postage are 2,799.45% higher in 2024 versus 1939 (a $559.89 difference in value).
Between 1939 and 2024: Postage experienced an average inflation rate of 4.04% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, postage costing $20 in the year 1939 would cost $579.89 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.73% during this same period, inflation for postage was higher.
In the year 1939: Pricing changed by 0%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for postage during the 1939-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1939 (-1.31%), inflation for postage was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Postage, over time, for $20 beginning in 1939. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | $20.00 | - |
| 1940 | $20.00 | 0.00% ** |
| 1941 | $20.00 | 0.00% ** |
| 1942 | $20.00 | 0.00% ** |
| 1943 | $20.00 | 0.00% ** |
| 1944 | $22.02 | 10.08% |
| 1945 | $22.95 | 4.23% |
| 1946 | $22.79 | -0.68% |
| 1947 | $22.48 | -1.36% |
| 1948 | $22.48 | 0.00% ** |
| 1949 | $24.31 | 8.14% |
| 1950 | $24.34 | 0.13% |
| 1951 | $25.09 | 3.06% |
| 1952 | $27.44 | 9.39% |
| 1953 | $28.03 | 2.15% |
| 1954 | $29.92 | 6.75% |
| 1955 | $29.92 | 0.00% ** |
| 1956 | $29.92 | 0.00% ** |
| 1957 | $30.08 | 0.52% |
| 1958 | $32.62 | 8.45% |
| 1959 | $35.19 | 7.89% |
| 1960 | $36.56 | 3.88% |
| 1961 | $36.81 | 0.68% |
| 1962 | $37.05 | 0.67% |
| 1963 | $43.13 | 16.40% |
| 1964 | $44.24 | 2.56% |
| 1965 | $44.34 | 0.23% |
| 1966 | $44.68 | 0.77% |
| 1967 | $46.02 | 2.98% |
| 1968 | $52.74 | 14.62% |
| 1969 | $53.80 | 2.00% |
| 1970 | $54.11 | 0.58% |
| 1971 | $63.41 | 17.19% |
| 1972 | $67.29 | 6.11% |
| 1973 | $67.29 | 0.00% ** |
| 1974 | $78.28 | 16.34% |
| 1975 | $80.54 | 2.88% |
| 1976 | $102.06 | 26.73% |
| 1977 | $103.57 | 1.47% |
| 1978 | $112.07 | 8.21% |
| 1979 | $118.14 | 5.42% |
| 1980 | $118.14 | 0.00% ** |
| 1981 | $138.60 | 17.32% |
| 1982 | $155.04 | 11.86% |
| 1983 | $155.04 | 0.00% ** |
| 1984 | $155.04 | 0.00% ** |
| 1985 | $168.67 | 8.79% |
| 1986 | $170.85 | 1.29% |
| 1987 | $170.85 | 0.00% ** |
| 1988 | $188.18 | 10.14% |
| 1989 | $193.95 | 3.07% |
| 1990 | $193.95 | 0.00% ** |
| 1991 | $222.66 | 14.80% |
| 1992 | $225.27 | 1.17% |
| 1993 | $225.27 | 0.00% ** |
| 1994 | $225.27 | 0.00% ** |
| 1995 | $248.53 | 10.32% |
| 1996 | $248.53 | 0.00% ** |
| 1997 | $248.53 | 0.00% ** |
| 1998 | $248.53 | 0.00% ** |
| 1999 | $255.97 | 2.99% |
| 2000 | $255.97 | 0.00% ** |
| 2001 | $265.94 | 3.90% |
| 2002 | $281.86 | 5.99% |
| 2003 | $295.97 | 5.01% |
| 2004 | $295.97 | 0.00% ** |
| 2005 | $295.97 | 0.00% ** |
| 2006 | $311.78 | 5.34% |
| 2007 | $319.48 | 2.47% |
| 2008 | $330.38 | 3.41% |
| 2009 | $346.68 | 4.93% |
| 2010 | $356.35 | 2.79% |
| 2011 | $370.08 | 3.85% |
| 2012 | $383.14 | 3.53% |
| 2013 | $407.12 | 6.26% |
| 2014 | $424.38 | 4.24% |
| 2015 | $425.61 | 0.29% |
| 2016 | $428.81 | 0.75% |
| 2017 | $439.78 | 2.56% |
| 2018 | $449.06 | 2.11% |
| 2019 | $474.53 | 5.67% |
| 2020 | $495.48 | 4.41% |
| 2021 | $515.14 | 3.97% |
| 2022 | $531.75 | 3.22% |
| 2023 | $555.02 | 4.38% |
| 2024 | $579.89 | 4.48%* |
* 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 Postage:
| 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 | 12.900 | 12.900 | 12.900 | 12.900 | 12.900 | 12.900 | 12.900 | 12.900 | 12.900 | 14.200 | 14.800 | 14.700 | 14.500 | 14.500 | 15.680 | 15.700 | 16.180 | 17.700 | 18.080 | 19.300 | 19.300 | 19.300 | 19.400 | 21.040 | 22.700 | 23.580 | 23.740 | 23.900 | 27.820 | 28.533 | 28.600 | 28.820 | 29.680 | 34.020 | 34.700 | 34.900 | 40.900 | 43.400 | 43.400 | 50.492 | 51.946 | 65.831 | 66.800 | 72.285 | 76.200 | 76.200 | 89.400 | 100.000 | 100.000 | 100.000 | 108.792 | 110.200 | 110.200 | 121.377 | 125.100 | 125.100 | 143.615 | 145.300 | 145.300 | 145.300 | 160.300 | 160.300 | 160.300 | 160.300 | 165.100 | 165.100 | 171.531 | 181.800 | 190.900 | 190.900 | 190.900 | 201.100 | 206.067 | 213.098 | 223.608 | 229.846 | 238.703 | 247.124 | 262.592 | 273.728 | 274.517 | 276.581 | 283.659 | 289.642 | 306.074 | 319.584 | 332.264 | 342.977 | 357.988 | 374.029 |