U.S. Inflation Rate by Year

Inflation in the United States has surged in the last two years and has now reached the highest rates since 1981.
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+6
Level ∞
Jul 12, 2018
I am not sure that the official inflation rate is an adequate reflection of certain aspects of the new economy. The price of education, housing, and medical care has grown far faster than inflation. I wonder if it has been adequately accounted for.
+1
Level 82
Aug 9, 2018
I can still get a pack of tube socks at WalMart for $2.
+2
Level ∞
Oct 31, 2022
Not any more!

https://www.walmart.com/c/kp/tube-sock

+2
Level 47
Aug 9, 2018
I doubt it

https://www.bls.gov/cpi/questions-and-answers.htm#Question_9

"Both the CPI and a cost-of-living index would reflect changes in the prices of goods and services, such as food and clothing that are directly purchased in the marketplace; but a complete cost-of-living index would go beyond this role to also take into account changes in other governmental or environmental factors that affect consumers' well-being. It is very difficult to determine the proper treatment of public goods, such as safety and education, and other broad concerns, such as health, water quality, and crime, that would constitute a complete cost-of-living framework. Since the CPI does not attempt to quantify all the factors that affect the cost-of-living, it is sometimes termed a conditional cost-of-living index."

+1
Level 76
Aug 8, 2018
I believe inflation and cost of living are, although related, measured separately. Inflation is judged by CPI, which is a measurement of the value of goods and service across the country. Cost of living is more fluid. Because standard of living is much more subjective and reflective of the statistician's opinion in many ways, the numbers can easily be manipulated.
+1
Level 78
Nov 8, 2018
Inflation should really be considered a durable goods index + energy (ie why it is often reported less the cost of energy).

For a cost of living index you could consider looking at Purchasing Power Parity (PPP).

https://data.oecd.org/conversion/purchasing-power-parities-ppp.htm

+3
Level 51
May 13, 2020
In 1946, the American inflation rate was 7.7 percent while the Hungarian inflation rate was 41.9 quadrillion percent.
+1
Level 73
Nov 1, 2022
come again?
+1
Level 49
May 20, 2021
I would love to see what it's at now lol
+1
Level ∞
Jun 28, 2021
It's 5% from a year ago with most of that happening in the last few months.
+3
Level 75
Jan 28, 2022
2021-2022 are going to be interesting additions to this graph...
+3
Level 85
May 11, 2022
The trillions of dollars we printed while crippling the supply chain might cause this to spike a little bit.