U.S. inflation · 1922–1985
$100 in 1922 has the same buying power as
$640
in 1985
| Cumulative price change | 540.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.99% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $640 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $540 |
| CPI in 1922 | 16.8 |
| CPI in 1985 | 107.6 |
| Inflation in 1922 | -6.15% |
| Inflation in 1985 | 3.56% |
| $100 in 1922 → 1985 | $640 |
| $100 in 1985 → 1922 | $15.61 |
Between 1922 and 1985, the Consumer Price Index went from 16.8 to 107.6. Cumulatively, prices increased 540.5%, which works out to an average of 2.99% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1922 bought what $0.16 buys in 1985.
| Amount in 1922 | Value in 1985 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $6.40 |
| $5.00 | $32.02 |
| $10.00 | $64.05 |
| $20.00 | $128 |
| $50.00 | $320 |
| $100 | $640 |
| $500 | $3,202 |
| $1,000 | $6,405 |
| $5,000 | $32,024 |
| $10,000 | $64,048 |
| $100,000 | $640,476 |
| $1,000,000 | $6,404,762 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1922 spending costs in 1985, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1922 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.99% | $640 |
| Food | 3.16% | $709 |
| Apparel | 2.18% | $389 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1922: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), medical care (1935–), transportation (1935–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1922 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1922 | 16.8 | -6.1% | $100 |
| 1927 | 17.4 | -1.7% | $104 |
| 1932 | 13.7 | -9.9% | $81.55 |
| 1937 | 14.4 | 3.6% | $85.71 |
| 1942 | 16.3 | 10.9% | $97.02 |
| 1947 | 22.3 | 14.4% | $133 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $158 |
| 1957 | 28.1 | 3.3% | $167 |
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $180 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $199 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $249 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $361 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $574 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $640 |
Long periods are sampled every 5 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1922 to 1985: $100 is worth $640 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1922-to-1985/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1922 to 1985. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1922-to-1985/
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U annual averages (series CUUR0000SA0; category indexes listed on the data sources page). See how these numbers are calculated.