According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for women's dresses are 7.57% lower in 2026 versus 1987 (a $1.51 difference in value).
Between 1987 and 2026:Women's dresses experienced an average inflation rate of -0.20% per year. In other words, women's dresses costing $20 in the year 1987 would cost $18.49 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.72% during this same period, inflation for women's dresses was lower.
In the year 1987: Pricing changed by 11.04%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for women's dresses during the 1987-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1987 (3.66%), inflation for women's dresses was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Women's dresses, over time, for $20 beginning in 1987. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | $20.00 | 11.04% |
| 1988 | $21.18 | 5.91% |
| 1989 | $21.19 | 0.04% |
| 1990 | $22.14 | 4.47% |
| 1991 | $22.97 | 3.74% |
| 1992 | $22.93 | -0.17% |
| 1993 | $23.36 | 1.88% |
| 1994 | $22.02 | -5.73% |
| 1995 | $20.80 | -5.54% |
| 1996 | $19.30 | -7.20% |
| 1997 | $19.04 | -1.34% |
| 1998 | $19.50 | 2.39% |
| 1999 | $18.55 | -4.89% |
| 2000 | $17.26 | -6.95% |
| 2001 | $16.89 | -2.12% |
| 2002 | $17.82 | 5.48% |
| 2003 | $17.55 | -1.51% |
| 2004 | $17.39 | -0.92% |
| 2005 | $17.78 | 2.26% |
| 2006 | $19.09 | 7.37% |
| 2007 | $19.35 | 1.35% |
| 2008 | $19.34 | -0.04% |
| 2009 | $20.07 | 3.74% |
| 2010 | $19.11 | -4.78% |
| 2011 | $19.94 | 4.37% |
| 2012 | $20.79 | 4.26% |
| 2013 | $20.91 | 0.55% |
| 2014 | $21.52 | 2.93% |
| 2015 | $21.06 | -2.14% |
| 2016 | $20.62 | -2.07% |
| 2017 | $21.11 | 2.37% |
| 2018 | $21.79 | 3.23% |
| 2019 | $19.98 | -8.31% |
| 2020 | $16.78 | -16.05% |
| 2021 | $17.33 | 3.30% |
| 2022 | $18.23 | 5.18% |
| 2023 | $18.39 | 0.87% |
| 2024 | $18.24 | -0.81% |
| 2025 | $18.53 | 1.58% |
| 2026 | $18.49 | -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 |