According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for women's apparel are 18.17% higher in 2024 versus 1979 (a $18.17 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 2024: Women's apparel experienced an average inflation rate of 0.37% per year. In other words, women's apparel costing $100 in the year 1979 would cost $118.17 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.30% during this same period, inflation for women's apparel was lower.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 1.84%, which is above the average yearly change for women's apparel during the 1979-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.26%), inflation for women's apparel was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Women's apparel, over time, for $100 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $100.00 | 1.84% |
| 1980 | $101.78 | 1.78% |
| 1981 | $102.94 | 1.15% |
| 1982 | $104.18 | 1.20% |
| 1983 | $106.12 | 1.86% |
| 1984 | $107.56 | 1.36% |
| 1985 | $111.56 | 3.71% |
| 1986 | $110.62 | -0.84% |
| 1987 | $117.50 | 6.22% |
| 1988 | $122.21 | 4.01% |
| 1989 | $123.57 | 1.11% |
| 1990 | $130.26 | 5.41% |
| 1991 | $135.15 | 3.76% |
| 1992 | $137.81 | 1.97% |
| 1993 | $140.65 | 2.06% |
| 1994 | $138.81 | -1.31% |
| 1995 | $134.21 | -3.31% |
| 1996 | $131.67 | -1.89% |
| 1997 | $133.62 | 1.49% |
| 1998 | $133.90 | 0.21% |
| 1999 | $131.08 | -2.11% |
| 2000 | $129.16 | -1.46% |
| 2001 | $126.99 | -1.68% |
| 2002 | $122.97 | -3.17% |
| 2003 | $119.85 | -2.53% |
| 2004 | $120.00 | 0.12% |
| 2005 | $118.50 | -1.25% |
| 2006 | $119.15 | 0.55% |
| 2007 | $118.74 | -0.35% |
| 2008 | $115.78 | -2.49% |
| 2009 | $116.48 | 0.60% |
| 2010 | $116.01 | -0.40% |
| 2011 | $117.98 | 1.70% |
| 2012 | $121.85 | 3.28% |
| 2013 | $123.15 | 1.06% |
| 2014 | $124.60 | 1.18% |
| 2015 | $121.23 | -2.70% |
| 2016 | $121.40 | 0.14% |
| 2017 | $121.05 | -0.29% |
| 2018 | $120.29 | -0.63% |
| 2019 | $115.75 | -3.77% |
| 2020 | $106.61 | -7.90% |
| 2021 | $107.65 | 0.98% |
| 2022 | $113.48 | 5.42% |
| 2023 | $116.96 | 3.07% |
| 2024 | $118.17 | 1.04%* |
* 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 Women's apparel:
| Year | 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 | 93.200 | 92.669 | 94.377 | 96.054 | 97.154 | 98.323 | 100.154 | 101.515 | 105.285 | 104.400 | 110.892 | 115.338 | 116.623 | 122.931 | 127.554 | 130.062 | 132.738 | 131.000 | 126.662 | 124.262 | 126.108 | 126.369 | 123.708 | 121.900 | 119.854 | 116.054 | 113.115 | 113.254 | 111.838 | 112.454 | 112.064 | 109.273 | 109.928 | 109.489 | 111.348 | 115.002 | 116.223 | 117.589 | 114.411 | 114.577 | 114.242 | 113.523 | 109.240 | 100.611 | 101.593 | 107.098 | 110.382 | 111.528 |