Women's apparel price inflation, 2012→2026

Women's Apparel Inflation Calculator

Prices for Women's Apparel, 2012-2026 ($100)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for women's apparel are 6.09% lower in 2026 versus 2012 (a $6.09 difference in value).

Between 2012 and 2026:Women's apparel experienced an average inflation rate of -0.45% per year. In other words, women's apparel costing $100 in the year 2012 would cost $93.91 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.49% during this same period, inflation for women's apparel was lower.

In the year 2012: Pricing changed by 3.28%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for women's apparel during the 2012-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2012 (2.07%), inflation for women's apparel was higher.

Price Inflation for Women's apparel since 1977

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

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2020 (-7.90%), 1987 (6.22%), and 2022 (5.42%).

View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $100.00 since 2012

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Women's apparel, over time, for $100 beginning in 2012. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
2012	$100.00	3.28%
2013	$101.06	1.06%
2014	$102.25	1.18%
2015	$99.49	-2.70%
2016	$99.63	0.14%
2017	$99.34	-0.29%
2018	$98.71	-0.63%
2019	$94.99	-3.77%
2020	$87.49	-7.90%
2021	$88.34	0.98%
2022	$93.13	5.42%
2023	$95.98	3.07%
2024	$96.63	0.68%
2025	$96.23	-0.42%
2026	$93.91	-2.41%*

* 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	2025	2026
CPI	93.200	92.667	94.375	96.058	97.150	98.325	100.158	101.517	105.283	104.400	110.892	115.342	116.625	122.933	127.550	130.058	132.742	131.000	126.658	124.258	126.108	126.367	123.708	121.900	119.850	116.050	113.117	113.250	111.842	112.450	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	111.131	110.662	107.999

Adjust women's apparel prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 2012* 2012 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Women's apparel was 115.002 in the year 2012 and 107.999 in 2026:

107.999 / 115.002* $100 = $93.91

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $100 in 2012 has the same "purchasing power" as $93.91 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Women's apparel).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Women's apparel in 1977. In addition to women's apparel, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.