Household energy price history from 1984 through 2020

Household Energy Inflation Calculator

Prices for Household Energy, 1984-2020 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for household energy were 90.52% higher in 2020 versus 1984 (a $18.10 difference in value).

Between 1984 and 2020: Household energy experienced an average inflation rate of 1.81% per year. In other words, household energy costing $20 in the year 1984 would cost $38.10 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.56% during this same period, inflation for household energy was lower.

Price Inflation for Household energy since 1984

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

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2005 (11.89%), 2008 (10.49%), and 2001 (10.29%).

Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Household energy:

Year	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
CPI	103.967	104.500	99.200	97.300	98.000	100.900	104.500	106.733	108.100	111.233	111.667	111.500	115.200	117.900	113.733	113.500	122.767	135.400	127.233	138.200	144.400	161.567	177.100	181.744	200.808	188.113	189.286	193.648	189.308	193.840	202.192	194.667	191.050	198.308	200.826	200.042	198.074

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Buying power of $20 since 1984

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Household energy, over time, for $20 beginning in 1984. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1984	$20.00	-
1985	$20.10	0.51%
1986	$19.08	-5.07%
1987	$18.72	-1.92%
1988	$18.85	0.72%
1989	$19.41	2.96%
1990	$20.10	3.57%
1991	$20.53	2.14%
1992	$20.80	1.28%
1993	$21.40	2.90%
1994	$21.48	0.39%
1995	$21.45	-0.15%
1996	$22.16	3.32%
1997	$22.68	2.34%
1998	$21.88	-3.53%
1999	$21.83	-0.21%
2000	$23.62	8.16%
2001	$26.05	10.29%
2002	$24.48	-6.03%
2003	$26.59	8.62%
2004	$27.78	4.49%
2005	$31.08	11.89%
2006	$34.07	9.61%
2007	$34.96	2.62%
2008	$38.63	10.49%
2009	$36.19	-6.32%
2010	$36.41	0.62%
2011	$37.25	2.30%
2012	$36.42	-2.24%
2013	$37.29	2.39%
2014	$38.90	4.31%
2015	$37.45	-3.72%
2016	$36.75	-1.86%
2017	$38.15	3.80%
2018	$38.63	1.27%
2019	$38.48	-0.39%
2020	$38.10	-0.98%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.

How to calculate the inflation rate for household energy, 1984-2020

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2020 / CPI in 1984 * 1984 USD value = 2020 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Household energy was 103.967 in the year 1984 and 198.074 in 2020:

198.074 / 103.967 * $20 = $38.10

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1984 has the same "purchasing power" as $38.10 in 2020 (in the CPI category of Household energy).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Household energy in 1984. In addition to household energy, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.