U.S. inflation · 1925–1986
$100 in 1925 has the same buying power as
$626
in 1986
| Cumulative price change | 526.3% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.05% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $626 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $526 |
| CPI in 1925 | 17.5 |
| CPI in 1986 | 109.6 |
| Inflation in 1925 | 2.34% |
| Inflation in 1986 | 1.86% |
| $100 in 1925 → 1986 | $626 |
| $100 in 1986 → 1925 | $15.97 |
Between 1925 and 1986, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.5 to 109.6. Cumulatively, prices increased 526.3%, which works out to an average of 3.05% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1925 bought what $0.16 buys in 1986.
| Amount in 1925 | Value in 1986 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $6.26 |
| $5.00 | $31.31 |
| $10.00 | $62.63 |
| $20.00 | $125 |
| $50.00 | $313 |
| $100 | $626 |
| $500 | $3,131 |
| $1,000 | $6,263 |
| $5,000 | $31,314 |
| $10,000 | $62,629 |
| $100,000 | $626,286 |
| $1,000,000 | $6,262,857 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1925 spending costs in 1986, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1925 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.05% | $626 |
| Food | 3.14% | $661 |
| Apparel | 2.31% | $403 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1925: 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 1925 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1925 | 17.5 | 2.3% | $100 |
| 1930 | 16.7 | -2.3% | $95.43 |
| 1935 | 13.7 | 2.2% | $78.29 |
| 1940 | 14 | 0.7% | $80.00 |
| 1945 | 18 | 2.3% | $103 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | 1.3% | $138 |
| 1955 | 26.8 | -0.4% | $153 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | 1.7% | $169 |
| 1965 | 31.5 | 1.6% | $180 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $222 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $307 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $471 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $615 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $626 |
Long periods are sampled every 5 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1925 to 1986: $100 is worth $626 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1925-to-1986/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1925 to 1986. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1925-to-1986/
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.