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COST OF LIVING

6 indicators · 1930–2026 · every value from its primary publisher
┊ dashed lines mark 1979 Oil shock & inflation peak · 1987 Black Monday crash · 1991 Gulf War recession · 2001 Dot-com bust & 9/11 · 2008 Global financial crisis · 2020 COVID-19 pandemic
Median Home Sale Pricedollars, annual average · FRED MSPUS
$409,6002026 thru Apr
+826% since 1976
$44,225 then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
RentCPI index, 1982-84 = 100 · FRED CUUR0000SEHA
4452026 thru Jul
+628% since 1976
61 then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Homeownership Ratepercent of households, annual average · FRED RHORUSQ156N
65.2%2026 thru Apr
+0.5 pts since 1976
64.7% then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Housing Startsunits per year · FRED HOUST
1.36M2026 thru Jul
−12% since 1976
1.53M then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Regular Gasoline Pricedollars per gallon, annual average · 1990–2026 · FRED GASREGW
$3.742026 thru Aug
+188% since 1990
$1.30 then
Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Electricity Pricedollars per kilowatt-hour · 1978–2026 · FRED APU000072610
$0.1942026 thru Jul
+322% since 1978
$0.046 then
Oil shock & inflation peak (1979)’79Black Monday crash (1987)’87Gulf War recession (1991)’91Dot-com bust & 9/11 (2001)’01Global financial crisis (2008)’08COVID-19 pandemic (2020)’20
Data

Complete year-by-year values, raw numbers in the unit in each column header. Machine-readable: stats.json · stats.csv.

YearMedian Home Sale Pricedollars, annual average · 1963–2026 (2026 thru Apr)RentCPI index, 1982-84 = 100 · 1930–2026 (2026 thru Jul)Homeownership Ratepercent of households, annual average · 1965–2026 (2026 thru Apr)Housing Startsunits per year · 1959–2026 (2026 thru Jul)Regular Gasoline Pricedollars per gallon, annual average · 1990–2026 (2026 thru Aug)Electricity Pricedollars per kilowatt-hour · 1978–2026 (2026 thru Jul)
193031
193129.1
193225.7
193322.3
193421.3
193521.4
193621.9
193723
193823.7
193923.7
194023.8
194124.2
194224.7
194324.7
194424.7
194524.8
194625
194725.8
194827.5
194928.7
195029.8
195130.9
195232.2
195333.9
195435.1
195535.6
195636.3
195737
195837.6
195938.21535300
196038.71256000
196139.21311500
196239.71458600
19631805040.11588300
19641892540.51540400
19652012540.9631469300
19662150041.563.51166500
19672275042.263.61284800
19682480043.363.81503600
19692560044.664.31486700
19702347546.564.21434800
19712522548.664.32035600
19722752550.364.42360800
19733260052.564.52043900
19743605055.164.71331900
1975392755864.61159800
19764422561.164.71535000
19774890064.864.81961800
19785585069.364.920006000.046
19796275074.365.217173000.05
19806475080.965.613003000.06
19816895087.965.410963000.069
19826922594.664.810573000.076
198375375100.164.717054000.078
198479950105.364.517663000.082
198584275111.863.917414000.081
198692025118.363.818119000.077
1987104700123.16416305000.079
1988112225127.863.814878000.08
1989120425132.863.913821000.082
1990122300138.463.912032001.30.084
1991119975143.36410088001.10.087
1992121375146.964.212014001.090.088
1993126500150.364.512916001.070.092
19941304251546414460001.070.092
1995133475157.864.813610001.110.094
199614025016265.414687001.20.094
1997145000166.765.714746001.20.094
1998151925172.166.316212001.030.087
1999160125177.566.816473001.140.086
2000167550183.967.415733001.480.087
2001173100192.167.816012001.420.092
2002186025199.767.917103001.340.091
2003192125205.568.318538001.560.093
20042181502116919495001.850.094
2005236550217.368.920729002.270.1
2006243750225.168.818119002.570.112
2007244950234.768.213418002.80.117
2008229550243.367.89000003.250.123
2009215650248.867.45540002.350.127
2010222700249.466.85855002.780.128
2011224900253.666.26119003.520.13
2012244400260.465.57838003.620.13
2013266225267.765.19282003.50.132
2014285775276.264.510003003.360.137
201529415028663.711068002.430.138
2016305125296.863.411771002.140.135
2017322425308.163.912047002.410.138
2018325275319.364.412468002.720.136
2019320250331.164.612915002.60.136
2020328150341.566.613943002.170.135
2021383000349.165.516033003.010.141
2022432950370.265.815503003.950.159
2023426525399.665.914209003.520.168
2024418975420.165.613700003.30.176
2025415400434.965.313558003.10.185
2026409600444.765.213576003.740.194
Sources