According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for women's dresses are 263.13% higher in 2026 versus 1936 (a $52.63 difference in value).
Between 1936 and 2026:Women's dresses experienced an average inflation rate of 1.44% per year. In other words, women's dresses costing $20 in the year 1936 would cost $72.63 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.56% during this same period, inflation for women's dresses was lower.
In the year 1936: Pricing changed by 0.36%, which is below the average yearly change for women's dresses during the 1936-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1936 (1.03%), inflation for women's dresses was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Women's dresses, over time, for $20 beginning in 1936. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1936 | $20.00 | 0.36% |
| 1937 | $20.55 | 2.75% |
| 1938 | $20.30 | -1.20% |
| 1939 | $20.25 | -0.25% |
| 1940 | $20.29 | 0.17% |
| 1941 | $20.94 | 3.24% |
| 1942 | $25.17 | 20.19% |
| 1943 | $26.28 | 4.40% |
| 1944 | $28.76 | 9.43% |
| 1945 | $30.33 | 5.49% |
| 1946 | $30.88 | 1.80% |
| 1947 | $35.18 | 13.93% |
| 1948 | $38.01 | 8.05% |
| 1949 | $33.66 | -11.45% |
| 1950 | $29.59 | -12.08% |
| 1951 | $31.87 | 7.71% |
| 1952 | $31.78 | -0.30% |
| 1953 | $31.99 | 0.67% |
| 1954 | $32.09 | 0.32% |
| 1955 | $32.23 | 0.42% |
| 1956 | $32.49 | 0.80% |
| 1957 | $32.88 | 1.23% |
| 1958 | $32.95 | 0.20% |
| 1959 | $33.73 | 2.37% |
| 1960 | $33.91 | 0.52% |
| 1961 | $34.00 | 0.28% |
| 1962 | $34.08 | 0.23% |
| 1963 | $34.33 | 0.73% |
| 1964 | $34.89 | 1.65% |
| 1965 | $35.43 | 1.55% |
| 1966 | $37.23 | 5.06% |
| 1967 | $40.25 | 8.12% |
| 1968 | $45.03 | 11.89% |
| 1969 | $49.85 | 10.70% |
| 1970 | $52.57 | 5.45% |
| 1971 | $51.82 | -1.43% |
| 1972 | $52.84 | 1.97% |
| 1973 | $55.15 | 4.38% |
| 1974 | $57.19 | 3.70% |
| 1975 | $58.57 | 2.41% |
| 1976 | $60.66 | 3.57% |
| 1977 | $62.89 | 3.69% |
| 1978 | $64.34 | 2.30% |
| 1979 | $66.66 | 3.60% |
| 1980 | $66.64 | -0.02% |
| 1981 | $66.69 | 0.08% |
| 1982 | $64.89 | -2.70% |
| 1983 | $67.10 | 3.40% |
| 1984 | $70.20 | 4.63% |
| 1985 | $71.63 | 2.02% |
| 1986 | $70.76 | -1.21% |
| 1987 | $78.57 | 11.04% |
| 1988 | $83.22 | 5.91% |
| 1989 | $83.25 | 0.04% |
| 1990 | $86.98 | 4.47% |
| 1991 | $90.23 | 3.74% |
| 1992 | $90.07 | -0.17% |
| 1993 | $91.77 | 1.88% |
| 1994 | $86.51 | -5.73% |
| 1995 | $81.71 | -5.54% |
| 1996 | $75.83 | -7.20% |
| 1997 | $74.82 | -1.34% |
| 1998 | $76.61 | 2.39% |
| 1999 | $72.86 | -4.89% |
| 2000 | $67.80 | -6.95% |
| 2001 | $66.36 | -2.12% |
| 2002 | $70.00 | 5.48% |
| 2003 | $68.95 | -1.51% |
| 2004 | $68.31 | -0.92% |
| 2005 | $69.86 | 2.26% |
| 2006 | $75.01 | 7.37% |
| 2007 | $76.02 | 1.35% |
| 2008 | $75.99 | -0.04% |
| 2009 | $78.83 | 3.74% |
| 2010 | $75.06 | -4.78% |
| 2011 | $78.35 | 4.37% |
| 2012 | $81.68 | 4.26% |
| 2013 | $82.13 | 0.55% |
| 2014 | $84.54 | 2.93% |
| 2015 | $82.73 | -2.14% |
| 2016 | $81.02 | -2.07% |
| 2017 | $82.94 | 2.37% |
| 2018 | $85.62 | 3.23% |
| 2019 | $78.50 | -8.31% |
| 2020 | $65.91 | -16.05% |
| 2021 | $68.08 | 3.30% |
| 2022 | $71.61 | 5.18% |
| 2023 | $72.23 | 0.87% |
| 2024 | $71.65 | -0.81% |
| 2025 | $72.78 | 1.58% |
| 2026 | $72.63 | -0.21%* |
* 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 dresses:
| Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 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 | 29.570 | 29.675 | 30.492 | 30.125 | 30.050 | 30.100 | 31.075 | 37.350 | 38.992 | 42.667 | 45.008 | 45.817 | 52.200 | 56.400 | 49.942 | 43.908 | 47.292 | 47.150 | 47.467 | 47.617 | 47.817 | 48.200 | 48.792 | 48.892 | 50.050 | 50.308 | 50.450 | 50.567 | 50.933 | 51.775 | 52.575 | 55.233 | 59.717 | 66.817 | 73.967 | 78.000 | 76.883 | 78.400 | 81.833 | 84.858 | 86.900 | 90.000 | 93.317 | 95.467 | 98.900 | 98.883 | 98.958 | 96.283 | 99.558 | 104.167 | 106.275 | 104.992 | 116.583 | 123.475 | 123.525 | 129.050 | 133.875 | 133.642 | 136.158 | 128.358 | 121.242 | 112.517 | 111.008 | 113.667 | 108.108 | 100.600 | 98.467 | 103.867 | 102.300 | 101.358 | 103.650 | 111.292 | 112.797 | 112.748 | 116.963 | 111.375 | 116.246 | 121.196 | 121.864 | 125.433 | 122.750 | 120.207 | 123.058 | 127.034 | 116.481 | 97.790 | 101.016 | 106.246 | 107.174 | 106.311 | 107.989 | 107.759 |