Clothing Prices Price History
1950–2025 · Bureau of Labor Statistics
The BLS Consumer Price Index for apparel is one of the strangest charts in all of economics. While virtually every other category — housing, healthcare, education, food — has marched relentlessly upward, clothing has barely budged. The index hit about 134 in the mid-1990s, drifted sideways for a decade, then actually declined through the 2000s. You can thank globalized supply chains, the rise of fast fashion, and an ocean of cheap imports from Asia. In real terms, Americans spend dramatically less on clothes today than their parents did.
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics1950–2025
Price in 1950
$40.30
Price in 2025
$129.00
Total Change
+220.1%
Years Tracked
75
Clothing Prices Over Time
1950Year Range2025
Compare to inflation: The chart above shows nominal (not inflation-adjusted) prices. Use the toggle to switch to inflation-adjusted values when available, or try the inflation calculator to convert any amount between years.
Key Insights
- Clothing is one of the rare bright spots in the inflation story. The apparel CPI peaked around 134 in 1993 and sits at roughly 129 in 2025 — meaning nominal prices are actually lower today than they were over 30 years ago.
- Adjusted for overall inflation, clothing has gotten roughly 60% cheaper since the early 1990s. That's a massive real-terms decline that almost no other consumer category can match.
- The big shift happened in the late 1990s and 2000s when manufacturing moved aggressively to China, Vietnam, and Bangladesh. The index dropped from 133 in 1998 all the way to 118.9 by 2008.
- Even the post-pandemic inflation spike barely dented things — the index bounced from 113.4 in 2020 to 127 in 2022, then leveled off. Clothing remains one of the most affordable categories relative to where it stood decades ago.
Year-by-Year Data
| Year | Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100)) | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | $40.30 | — |
| 1951 | $42.40 | +5.2% |
| 1952 | $41.60 | -1.9% |
| 1953 | $40.80 | -1.9% |
| 1954 | $40.60 | -0.5% |
| 1955 | $40.40 | -0.5% |
| 1956 | $41.00 | +1.5% |
| 1957 | $41.80 | +2.0% |
| 1958 | $41.70 | -0.2% |
| 1959 | $42.00 | +0.7% |
| 1960 | $42.30 | +0.7% |
| 1961 | $42.30 | +0.0% |
| 1962 | $42.30 | +0.0% |
| 1963 | $42.40 | +0.2% |
| 1964 | $42.50 | +0.2% |
| 1965 | $42.80 | +0.7% |
| 1966 | $43.80 | +2.3% |
| 1967 | $45.20 | +3.2% |
| 1968 | $47.10 | +4.2% |
| 1969 | $49.10 | +4.2% |
| 1970 | $51.70 | +5.3% |
| 1971 | $53.00 | +2.5% |
| 1972 | $53.80 | +1.5% |
| 1973 | $55.50 | +3.2% |
| 1974 | $59.00 | +6.3% |
| 1975 | $62.20 | +5.4% |
| 1976 | $63.70 | +2.4% |
| 1977 | $65.50 | +2.8% |
| 1978 | $67.50 | +3.1% |
| 1979 | $71.20 | +5.5% |
| 1980 | $78.60 | +10.4% |
| 1981 | $86.00 | +9.4% |
| 1982 | $91.80 | +6.7% |
| 1983 | $96.10 | +4.7% |
| 1984 | $100.20 | +4.3% |
| 1985 | $105.00 | +4.8% |
| 1986 | $105.90 | +0.9% |
| 1987 | $110.60 | +4.4% |
| 1988 | $115.40 | +4.3% |
| 1989 | $118.60 | +2.8% |
| 1990 | $124.10 | +4.6% |
| 1991 | $128.70 | +3.7% |
| 1992 | $131.90 | +2.5% |
| 1993 | $133.70 | +1.4% |
| 1994 | $133.40 | -0.2% |
| 1995 | $132.00 | -1.0% |
| 1996 | $131.70 | -0.2% |
| 1997 | $132.90 | +0.9% |
| 1998 | $133.00 | +0.1% |
| 1999 | $131.30 | -1.3% |
| 2000 | $129.60 | -1.3% |
| 2001 | $127.30 | -1.8% |
| 2002 | $124.00 | -2.6% |
| 2003 | $120.90 | -2.5% |
| 2004 | $120.40 | -0.4% |
| 2005 | $119.50 | -0.7% |
| 2006 | $119.50 | +0.0% |
| 2007 | $119.20 | -0.3% |
| 2008 | $118.90 | -0.3% |
| 2009 | $119.50 | +0.5% |
| 2010 | $119.50 | +0.0% |
| 2011 | $122.10 | +2.2% |
| 2012 | $126.30 | +3.4% |
| 2013 | $127.80 | +1.2% |
| 2014 | $125.90 | -1.5% |
| 2015 | $124.30 | -1.3% |
| 2016 | $123.50 | -0.6% |
| 2017 | $123.80 | +0.2% |
| 2018 | $121.50 | -1.9% |
| 2019 | $117.30 | -3.5% |
| 2020 | $113.40 | -3.3% |
| 2021 | $121.10 | +6.8% |
| 2022 | $127.00 | +4.9% |
| 2023 | $126.40 | -0.5% |
| 2024 | $127.80 | +1.1% |
| 2025 | $129.00 | +0.9% |
Year1950
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$40.30
YoY Change—
Year1951
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$42.40
YoY Change+5.2%
Year1952
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$41.60
YoY Change-1.9%
Year1953
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$40.80
YoY Change-1.9%
Year1954
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$40.60
YoY Change-0.5%
Year1955
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$40.40
YoY Change-0.5%
Year1956
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$41.00
YoY Change+1.5%
Year1957
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$41.80
YoY Change+2.0%
Year1958
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$41.70
YoY Change-0.2%
Year1959
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$42.00
YoY Change+0.7%
Year1960
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$42.30
YoY Change+0.7%
Year1961
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$42.30
YoY Change+0.0%
Year1962
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$42.30
YoY Change+0.0%
Year1963
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$42.40
YoY Change+0.2%
Year1964
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$42.50
YoY Change+0.2%
Year1965
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$42.80
YoY Change+0.7%
Year1966
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$43.80
YoY Change+2.3%
Year1967
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$45.20
YoY Change+3.2%
Year1968
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$47.10
YoY Change+4.2%
Year1969
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$49.10
YoY Change+4.2%
Year1970
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$51.70
YoY Change+5.3%
Year1971
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$53.00
YoY Change+2.5%
Year1972
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$53.80
YoY Change+1.5%
Year1973
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$55.50
YoY Change+3.2%
Year1974
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$59.00
YoY Change+6.3%
Year1975
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$62.20
YoY Change+5.4%
Year1976
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$63.70
YoY Change+2.4%
Year1977
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$65.50
YoY Change+2.8%
Year1978
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$67.50
YoY Change+3.1%
Year1979
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$71.20
YoY Change+5.5%
Year1980
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$78.60
YoY Change+10.4%
Year1981
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$86.00
YoY Change+9.4%
Year1982
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$91.80
YoY Change+6.7%
Year1983
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$96.10
YoY Change+4.7%
Year1984
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$100.20
YoY Change+4.3%
Year1985
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$105.00
YoY Change+4.8%
Year1986
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$105.90
YoY Change+0.9%
Year1987
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$110.60
YoY Change+4.4%
Year1988
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$115.40
YoY Change+4.3%
Year1989
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$118.60
YoY Change+2.8%
Year1990
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$124.10
YoY Change+4.6%
Year1991
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$128.70
YoY Change+3.7%
Year1992
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$131.90
YoY Change+2.5%
Year1993
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$133.70
YoY Change+1.4%
Year1994
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$133.40
YoY Change-0.2%
Year1995
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$132.00
YoY Change-1.0%
Year1996
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$131.70
YoY Change-0.2%
Year1997
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$132.90
YoY Change+0.9%
Year1998
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$133.00
YoY Change+0.1%
Year1999
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$131.30
YoY Change-1.3%
Year2000
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$129.60
YoY Change-1.3%
Year2001
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$127.30
YoY Change-1.8%
Year2002
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$124.00
YoY Change-2.6%
Year2003
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$120.90
YoY Change-2.5%
Year2004
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$120.40
YoY Change-0.4%
Year2005
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$119.50
YoY Change-0.7%
Year2006
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$119.50
YoY Change+0.0%
Year2007
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$119.20
YoY Change-0.3%
Year2008
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$118.90
YoY Change-0.3%
Year2009
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$119.50
YoY Change+0.5%
Year2010
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$119.50
YoY Change+0.0%
Year2011
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$122.10
YoY Change+2.2%
Year2012
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$126.30
YoY Change+3.4%
Year2013
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$127.80
YoY Change+1.2%
Year2014
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$125.90
YoY Change-1.5%
Year2015
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$124.30
YoY Change-1.3%
Year2016
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$123.50
YoY Change-0.6%
Year2017
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$123.80
YoY Change+0.2%
Year2018
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$121.50
YoY Change-1.9%
Year2019
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$117.30
YoY Change-3.5%
Year2020
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$113.40
YoY Change-3.3%
Year2021
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$121.10
YoY Change+6.8%
Year2022
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$127.00
YoY Change+4.9%
Year2023
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$126.40
YoY Change-0.5%
Year2024
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$127.80
YoY Change+1.1%
Year2025
Price (CPI Index (1982-84=100))$129.00
YoY Change+0.9%
Sources & Methodology
BLS CPI-U for Apparel (series CUUR0000SAA). Annual average index values with 1982-84=100 base period. Covers men's, women's, and children's clothing, plus footwear.
Primary source: Bureau of Labor Statistics
For a full explanation of how we collect and adjust data, see our methodology page.