According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for women's apparel are 3.09% lower in 2024 versus 1988 (a $3.09 difference in value).
Between 1988 and 2024: Women's apparel experienced an average inflation rate of -0.09% per year. In other words, women's apparel costing $100 in the year 1988 would cost $96.91 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.74% during this same period, inflation for women's apparel was lower.
In the year 1988: Pricing changed by 4.01%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for women's apparel during the 1988-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1988 (4.08%), inflation for women's apparel was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Women's apparel, over time, for $100 beginning in 1988. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | $100.00 | 4.01% |
| 1989 | $101.11 | 1.11% |
| 1990 | $106.58 | 5.41% |
| 1991 | $110.59 | 3.76% |
| 1992 | $112.77 | 1.97% |
| 1993 | $115.09 | 2.06% |
| 1994 | $113.58 | -1.31% |
| 1995 | $109.82 | -3.31% |
| 1996 | $107.74 | -1.89% |
| 1997 | $109.34 | 1.49% |
| 1998 | $109.56 | 0.21% |
| 1999 | $107.26 | -2.11% |
| 2000 | $105.69 | -1.46% |
| 2001 | $103.91 | -1.68% |
| 2002 | $100.62 | -3.17% |
| 2003 | $98.07 | -2.53% |
| 2004 | $98.19 | 0.12% |
| 2005 | $96.97 | -1.25% |
| 2006 | $97.50 | 0.55% |
| 2007 | $97.16 | -0.35% |
| 2008 | $94.74 | -2.49% |
| 2009 | $95.31 | 0.60% |
| 2010 | $94.93 | -0.40% |
| 2011 | $96.54 | 1.70% |
| 2012 | $99.71 | 3.28% |
| 2013 | $100.77 | 1.06% |
| 2014 | $101.95 | 1.18% |
| 2015 | $99.20 | -2.70% |
| 2016 | $99.34 | 0.14% |
| 2017 | $99.05 | -0.29% |
| 2018 | $98.43 | -0.63% |
| 2019 | $94.71 | -3.77% |
| 2020 | $87.23 | -7.90% |
| 2021 | $88.08 | 0.98% |
| 2022 | $92.86 | 5.42% |
| 2023 | $95.70 | 3.07% |
| 2024 | $96.91 | 1.26%* |
* 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 | 111.775 |