According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for apparel less footwear are 28.44% higher in 2024 versus 1981 (a $5.69 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2024: Apparel less footwear experienced an average inflation rate of 0.58% per year. In other words, apparel less footwear costing $20 in the year 1981 would cost $25.69 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.92% during this same period, inflation for apparel less footwear was lower.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 3.66%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for apparel less footwear during the 1981-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation for apparel less footwear was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Apparel less footwear, over time, for $20 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $20.00 | 3.66% |
| 1982 | $20.35 | 1.75% |
| 1983 | $20.79 | 2.16% |
| 1984 | $21.07 | 1.33% |
| 1985 | $21.64 | 2.71% |
| 1986 | $21.71 | 0.34% |
| 1987 | $22.73 | 4.69% |
| 1988 | $23.72 | 4.38% |
| 1989 | $24.29 | 2.37% |
| 1990 | $25.47 | 4.86% |
| 1991 | $26.43 | 3.76% |
| 1992 | $27.00 | 2.19% |
| 1993 | $27.35 | 1.30% |
| 1994 | $27.20 | -0.55% |
| 1995 | $26.81 | -1.45% |
| 1996 | $26.64 | -0.61% |
| 1997 | $26.84 | 0.74% |
| 1998 | $26.82 | -0.07% |
| 1999 | $26.50 | -1.20% |
| 2000 | $26.17 | -1.25% |
| 2001 | $25.63 | -2.05% |
| 2002 | $24.91 | -2.83% |
| 2003 | $24.21 | -2.79% |
| 2004 | $24.12 | -0.38% |
| 2005 | $23.73 | -1.63% |
| 2006 | $23.67 | -0.26% |
| 2007 | $23.61 | -0.25% |
| 2008 | $23.51 | -0.43% |
| 2009 | $23.68 | 0.72% |
| 2010 | $23.49 | -0.79% |
| 2011 | $24.10 | 2.61% |
| 2012 | $24.97 | 3.59% |
| 2013 | $25.11 | 0.55% |
| 2014 | $25.10 | -0.01% |
| 2015 | $24.64 | -1.86% |
| 2016 | $24.65 | 0.05% |
| 2017 | $24.57 | -0.31% |
| 2018 | $24.61 | 0.17% |
| 2019 | $24.18 | -1.76% |
| 2020 | $22.86 | -5.45% |
| 2021 | $23.34 | 2.09% |
| 2022 | $24.55 | 5.18% |
| 2023 | $25.39 | 3.42% |
| 2024 | $25.69 | 1.19%* |
* 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 Apparel less footwear:
| Year | 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 |
| CPI | 47.654 | 50.492 | 48.154 | 47.200 | 50.992 | 50.585 | 50.085 | 49.669 | 49.269 | 49.769 | 50.200 | 50.115 | 50.185 | 50.692 | 51.008 | 51.092 | 51.585 | 52.000 | 52.400 | 53.354 | 55.446 | 58.600 | 62.069 | 64.477 | 66.454 | 67.785 | 70.146 | 75.223 | 77.954 | 80.346 | 83.492 | 85.515 | 87.862 | 93.038 | 96.446 | 98.131 | 100.254 | 101.585 | 104.338 | 104.692 | 109.600 | 114.400 | 117.115 | 122.808 | 127.431 | 130.215 | 131.908 | 131.177 | 129.269 | 128.477 | 129.423 | 129.338 | 127.785 | 126.192 | 123.608 | 120.115 | 116.762 | 116.315 | 114.423 | 114.131 | 113.848 | 113.358 | 114.172 | 113.272 | 116.234 | 120.403 | 121.068 | 121.059 | 118.807 | 118.866 | 118.496 | 118.693 | 116.601 | 110.241 | 112.542 | 118.375 | 122.422 | 123.878 |