Shelter price inflation, 1952→2024

Shelter Inflation Calculator

Prices for Shelter, 1952-2024 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for shelter are 1,751.64% higher in 2024 versus 1952 (a $350.33 difference in value).

Between 1952 and 2024: Shelter experienced an average inflation rate of 4.14% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, shelter costing $20 in the year 1952 would cost $370.33 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.49% during this same period, inflation for shelter was higher.

Price Inflation for Shelter since 1952

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

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (17.55%), 1979 (13.90%), and 1981 (11.72%).

View price changes for other categories
Gasoline (all types) · Admission to sporting events · Educational books and supplies · Milk · More

Buying power of $20.00 since 1952

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Shelter, over time, for $20 beginning in 1952. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1952	$20.00	-
1953	$20.37	1.85%
1954	$20.82	2.20%
1955	$21.06	1.16%
1956	$21.41	1.66%
1957	$22.19	3.63%
1958	$22.66	2.12%
1959	$22.90	1.07%
1960	$23.36	2.02%
1961	$23.56	0.85%
1962	$23.82	1.12%
1963	$24.14	1.32%
1964	$24.54	1.65%
1965	$24.99	1.86%
1966	$25.74	2.99%
1967	$26.64	3.49%
1968	$27.90	4.73%
1969	$30.16	8.12%
1970	$32.91	9.09%
1971	$34.28	4.18%
1972	$35.81	4.47%
1973	$37.48	4.65%
1974	$41.12	9.71%
1975	$45.18	9.87%
1976	$47.66	5.50%
1977	$50.88	6.74%
1978	$56.01	10.09%
1979	$63.80	13.90%
1980	$74.99	17.55%
1981	$83.78	11.72%
1982	$89.72	7.08%
1983	$91.79	2.31%
1984	$96.29	4.90%
1985	$101.68	5.60%
1986	$107.24	5.47%
1987	$112.26	4.68%
1988	$117.67	4.82%
1989	$122.99	4.52%
1990	$129.62	5.39%
1991	$135.44	4.49%
1992	$139.99	3.36%
1993	$144.20	3.00%
1994	$148.63	3.08%
1995	$153.41	3.22%
1996	$158.36	3.23%
1997	$163.22	3.07%
1998	$168.62	3.31%
1999	$173.39	2.83%
2000	$179.03	3.25%
2001	$185.71	3.73%
2002	$192.68	3.75%
2003	$197.33	2.41%
2004	$202.63	2.69%
2005	$207.80	2.55%
2006	$214.94	3.43%
2007	$222.79	3.65%
2008	$228.39	2.52%
2009	$230.88	1.09%
2010	$230.00	-0.38%
2011	$233.01	1.31%
2012	$238.04	2.16%
2013	$243.57	2.32%
2014	$250.47	2.83%
2015	$258.15	3.06%
2016	$266.88	3.38%
2017	$275.74	3.32%
2018	$284.87	3.31%
2019	$294.49	3.38%
2020	$301.75	2.46%
2021	$309.79	2.67%
2022	$328.00	5.88%
2023	$352.45	7.45%
2024	$370.33	5.07%*

* 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 Shelter:

Year	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	21.600	22.000	22.485	22.746	23.123	23.962	24.469	24.731	25.231	25.446	25.731	26.069	26.500	26.992	27.800	28.769	30.131	32.577	35.538	37.023	38.677	40.477	44.408	48.792	51.477	54.946	60.492	68.900	80.992	90.485	96.892	99.131	103.992	109.815	115.823	121.246	127.085	132.831	139.985	146.277	151.192	155.731	160.523	165.685	171.031	176.277	182.108	187.262	193.354	200.562	208.092	213.115	218.838	224.423	232.131	240.611	246.666	249.354	248.396	251.646	257.083	263.056	270.513	278.803	288.230	297.803	307.663	318.053	325.886	334.575	354.235	380.643	399.954

Adjust shelter prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2024 / CPI in 1952 * 1952 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Shelter was 21.600 in the year 1952 and 399.954 in 2024:

399.954 / 21.600 * $20 = $370.33

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1952 has the same "purchasing power" as $370.33 in 2024 (in the CPI category of Shelter).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Shelter in 1952. In addition to shelter, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.