Postage price inflation, 1947→2026

Postage Inflation Calculator

Prices for Postage, 1947-2026 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for postage are 2,728.23% higher in 2026 versus 1947 (a $545.65 difference in value).

Between 1947 and 2026: Postage experienced an average inflation rate of 4.32% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, postage costing $20 in the year 1947 would cost $565.65 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.44% during this same period, inflation for postage was higher.

Price Inflation for Postage since 1947

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

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1976 (26.73%), 1981 (17.32%), and 1971 (17.19%).

View price changes for other categories
Film and photographic supplies · Alcoholic beverages · Boston, Massachusetts · Public transportation · More

Buying power of $20.00 since 1947

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Postage, over time, for $20 beginning in 1947. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1947	$20.00	-
1948	$20.00	0.00% **
1949	$21.38	6.90%
1950	$21.66	1.29%
1951	$21.89	1.06%
1952	$24.41	11.55%
1953	$24.60	0.75%
1954	$26.62	8.22%
1955	$26.62	0.00% **
1956	$26.62	0.00% **
1957	$26.71	0.35%
1958	$28.37	6.20%
1959	$31.31	10.37%
1960	$32.34	3.30%
1961	$32.69	1.07%
1962	$32.97	0.84%
1963	$37.56	13.95%
1964	$39.05	3.95%
1965	$39.45	1.03%
1966	$39.69	0.61%
1967	$40.78	2.75%
1968	$45.89	12.51%
1969	$47.86	4.31%
1970	$48.14	0.58%
1971	$56.41	17.19%
1972	$59.86	6.11%
1973	$59.86	0.00% **
1974	$69.64	16.34%
1975	$71.64	2.87%
1976	$90.79	26.73%
1977	$92.14	1.48%
1978	$99.70	8.21%
1979	$105.10	5.42%
1980	$105.10	0.00% **
1981	$123.31	17.32%
1982	$137.93	11.86%
1983	$137.93	0.00% **
1984	$137.93	0.00% **
1985	$150.06	8.79%
1986	$152.00	1.29%
1987	$152.00	0.00% **
1988	$167.41	10.14%
1989	$172.55	3.07%
1990	$172.55	0.00% **
1991	$198.09	14.80%
1992	$200.41	1.17%
1993	$200.41	0.00% **
1994	$200.41	0.00% **
1995	$221.10	10.32%
1996	$221.10	0.00% **
1997	$221.10	0.00% **
1998	$221.10	0.00% **
1999	$227.72	2.99%
2000	$227.72	0.00% **
2001	$236.60	3.90%
2002	$250.76	5.99%
2003	$263.31	5.01%
2004	$263.31	0.00% **
2005	$263.31	0.00% **
2006	$277.38	5.34%
2007	$284.23	2.47%
2008	$293.93	3.41%
2009	$308.43	4.93%
2010	$317.03	2.79%
2011	$329.24	3.85%
2012	$340.86	3.53%
2013	$362.20	6.26%
2014	$377.56	4.24%
2015	$378.64	0.29%
2016	$381.49	0.75%
2017	$391.25	2.56%
2018	$399.51	2.11%
2019	$422.17	5.67%
2020	$440.81	4.41%
2021	$458.30	3.97%
2022	$473.07	3.22%
2023	$493.78	4.38%
2024	$520.02	5.31%
2025	$540.50	3.94%
2026	$565.65	4.65%*

* 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	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	14.500	14.500	15.500	15.700	15.867	17.700	17.833	19.300	19.300	19.300	19.367	20.567	22.700	23.450	23.700	23.900	27.233	28.308	28.600	28.775	29.567	33.267	34.700	34.900	40.900	43.400	43.400	50.492	51.942	65.825	66.800	72.283	76.200	76.200	89.400	100.000	100.000	100.000	108.792	110.200	110.200	121.375	125.100	125.100	143.617	145.300	145.300	145.300	160.300	160.300	160.300	160.300	165.100	165.100	171.533	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	377.014	391.865	410.093

Adjust postage prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1947 * 1947 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Postage was 14.500 in the year 1947 and 410.093 in 2026:

410.093 / 14.500 * $20 = $565.65

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1947 has the same "purchasing power" as $565.65 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Postage).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Postage in 1947. In addition to postage, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.