According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for women's outerwear were 5.87% lower in 2020 versus 1978 (a $1.17 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2020: Women's outerwear experienced an average inflation rate of -0.14% per year. In other words, women's outerwear costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $18.83 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.33% during this same period, inflation for women's outerwear was significantly lower.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Women's outerwear:
| Year | 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 |
| CPI | 98.517 | 100.542 | 98.800 | 95.633 | 97.633 | 101.183 | 100.967 | 101.108 | 95.175 | 100.892 | 104.517 | 108.858 | 114.117 | 119.833 | 119.275 | 124.542 | 121.292 | 116.500 | 119.417 | 123.333 | 118.858 | 113.575 | 115.942 | 115.250 | 110.358 | 108.433 | 104.292 | 100.775 | 94.700 | 93.134 | 92.613 | 92.874 | 91.505 | 94.227 | 95.250 | 101.983 | 112.030 | 109.755 | 110.626 | 109.835 | 104.812 | 105.002 | 92.733 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Women's outerwear, over time, for $20 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | - |
| 1979 | $20.41 | 2.06% |
| 1980 | $20.06 | -1.73% |
| 1981 | $19.41 | -3.21% |
| 1982 | $19.82 | 2.09% |
| 1983 | $20.54 | 3.64% |
| 1984 | $20.50 | -0.21% |
| 1985 | $20.53 | 0.14% |
| 1986 | $19.32 | -5.87% |
| 1987 | $20.48 | 6.01% |
| 1988 | $21.22 | 3.59% |
| 1989 | $22.10 | 4.15% |
| 1990 | $23.17 | 4.83% |
| 1991 | $24.33 | 5.01% |
| 1992 | $24.21 | -0.47% |
| 1993 | $25.28 | 4.42% |
| 1994 | $24.62 | -2.61% |
| 1995 | $23.65 | -3.95% |
| 1996 | $24.24 | 2.50% |
| 1997 | $25.04 | 3.28% |
| 1998 | $24.13 | -3.63% |
| 1999 | $23.06 | -4.45% |
| 2000 | $23.54 | 2.08% |
| 2001 | $23.40 | -0.60% |
| 2002 | $22.40 | -4.24% |
| 2003 | $22.01 | -1.74% |
| 2004 | $21.17 | -3.82% |
| 2005 | $20.46 | -3.37% |
| 2006 | $19.23 | -6.03% |
| 2007 | $18.91 | -1.65% |
| 2008 | $18.80 | -0.56% |
| 2009 | $18.85 | 0.28% |
| 2010 | $18.58 | -1.47% |
| 2011 | $19.13 | 2.97% |
| 2012 | $19.34 | 1.09% |
| 2013 | $20.70 | 7.07% |
| 2014 | $22.74 | 9.85% |
| 2015 | $22.28 | -2.03% |
| 2016 | $22.46 | 0.79% |
| 2017 | $22.30 | -0.71% |
| 2018 | $21.28 | -4.57% |
| 2019 | $21.32 | 0.18% |
| 2020 | $18.83 | -11.68%* |