Nondurables less food price history from 1989 through 2020

Nondurables Less Food Inflation Calculator

Prices for Nondurables Less Food, 1989-2020 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for nondurables less food were 69.99% higher in 2020 versus 1989 (a $14 difference in value).

Between 1989 and 2020: Nondurables less food experienced an average inflation rate of 1.73% per year. In other words, nondurables less food costing $20 in the year 1989 would cost $34 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.39% during this same period, inflation for nondurables less food was lower.

Price Inflation for Nondurables less food since 1989

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

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2011 (9.17%), 2015 (-9.13%), and 2009 (-7.97%).

Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Nondurables less food:

Year	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	111.708	119.850	124.500	127.617	129.333	129.708	130.867	134.450	136.292	134.600	139.458	149.125	149.125	147.400	151.925	159.292	170.025	178.133	184.042	197.265	181.543	191.969	209.572	214.889	213.544	211.628	192.313	187.192	193.801	201.900	199.732	189.893

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Buying power of $20 since 1989

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Nondurables less food, over time, for $20 beginning in 1989. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1989	$20.00	-
1990	$21.46	7.29%
1991	$22.29	3.88%
1992	$22.85	2.50%
1993	$23.16	1.35%
1994	$23.22	0.29%
1995	$23.43	0.89%
1996	$24.07	2.74%
1997	$24.40	1.37%
1998	$24.10	-1.24%
1999	$24.97	3.61%
2000	$26.70	6.93%
2001	$26.70	0.00%
2002	$26.39	-1.16%
2003	$27.20	3.07%
2004	$28.52	4.85%
2005	$30.44	6.74%
2006	$31.89	4.77%
2007	$32.95	3.32%
2008	$35.32	7.18%
2009	$32.50	-7.97%
2010	$34.37	5.74%
2011	$37.52	9.17%
2012	$38.47	2.54%
2013	$38.23	-0.63%
2014	$37.89	-0.90%
2015	$34.43	-9.13%
2016	$33.51	-2.66%
2017	$34.70	3.53%
2018	$36.15	4.18%
2019	$35.76	-1.07%
2020	$34.00	-4.93%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.

How to calculate the inflation rate for nondurables less food, 1989-2020

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2020 / CPI in 1989 * 1989 USD value = 2020 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Nondurables less food was 111.708 in the year 1989 and 189.893 in 2020:

189.893 / 111.708 * $20 = $34

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1989 has the same "purchasing power" as $34 in 2020 (in the CPI category of Nondurables less food).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Nondurables less food in 1989. In addition to nondurables less food, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.