According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for women's footwear are 52.51% higher in 2025 versus 1979 (a $10.50 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 2025: Women's footwear experienced an average inflation rate of 0.92% per year. In other words, women's footwear costing $20 in the year 1979 would cost $30.50 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.29% during this same period, inflation for women's footwear was lower.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 6.29%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for women's footwear during the 1979-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.26%), inflation for women's footwear was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Women's footwear, over time, for $20 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 | $20.00 | 6.29% |
| 1980 | $21.22 | 6.09% |
| 1981 | $22.28 | 5.02% |
| 1982 | $22.99 | 3.15% |
| 1983 | $23.02 | 0.14% |
| 1984 | $23.06 | 0.18% |
| 1985 | $23.23 | 0.75% |
| 1986 | $22.67 | -2.40% |
| 1987 | $23.24 | 2.48% |
| 1988 | $24.05 | 3.52% |
| 1989 | $25.09 | 4.31% |
| 1990 | $25.46 | 1.46% |
| 1991 | $26.37 | 3.57% |
| 1992 | $27.55 | 4.49% |
| 1993 | $28.08 | 1.93% |
| 1994 | $27.72 | -1.31% |
| 1995 | $27.48 | -0.87% |
| 1996 | $27.86 | 1.39% |
| 1997 | $28.08 | 0.78% |
| 1998 | $28.34 | 0.93% |
| 1999 | $27.97 | -1.30% |
| 2000 | $27.54 | -1.55% |
| 2001 | $27.82 | 1.05% |
| 2002 | $27.39 | -1.57% |
| 2003 | $27.26 | -0.47% |
| 2004 | $27.26 | -0.01% |
| 2005 | $28.05 | 2.91% |
| 2006 | $28.27 | 0.80% |
| 2007 | $28.19 | -0.29% |
| 2008 | $28.21 | 0.08% |
| 2009 | $28.40 | 0.68% |
| 2010 | $28.84 | 1.54% |
| 2011 | $28.47 | -1.30% |
| 2012 | $29.28 | 2.85% |
| 2013 | $30.01 | 2.51% |
| 2014 | $29.46 | -1.84% |
| 2015 | $29.67 | 0.71% |
| 2016 | $29.60 | -0.22% |
| 2017 | $29.26 | -1.15% |
| 2018 | $28.74 | -1.77% |
| 2019 | $28.59 | -0.55% |
| 2020 | $27.75 | -2.92% |
| 2021 | $28.65 | 3.24% |
| 2022 | $30.05 | 4.89% |
| 2023 | $30.37 | 1.05% |
| 2024 | $30.40 | 0.10% |
| 2025 | $30.50 | 0.34%* |
* 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 footwear:
| 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 |
| CPI | 79.600 | 81.746 | 86.885 | 92.177 | 96.800 | 99.854 | 99.992 | 100.169 | 100.923 | 98.500 | 100.946 | 104.500 | 109.008 | 110.600 | 114.554 | 119.700 | 122.008 | 120.415 | 119.369 | 121.031 | 121.969 | 123.108 | 121.508 | 119.623 | 120.877 | 118.985 | 118.423 | 118.408 | 121.854 | 122.823 | 122.465 | 122.562 | 123.396 | 125.293 | 123.661 | 127.188 | 130.374 | 127.972 | 128.884 | 128.604 | 127.125 | 124.871 | 124.185 | 120.559 | 124.462 | 130.551 | 131.923 | 132.049 | 132.505 |