U.S. inflation · 1925–1988
$100 in 1925 has the same buying power as
$676
in 1988
| Cumulative price change | 576.0% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.08% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $676 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $576 |
| CPI in 1925 | 17.5 |
| CPI in 1988 | 118.3 |
| Inflation in 1925 | 2.34% |
| Inflation in 1988 | 4.14% |
| $100 in 1925 → 1988 | $676 |
| $100 in 1988 → 1925 | $14.79 |
Between 1925 and 1988, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.5 to 118.3. Cumulatively, prices increased 576.0%, which works out to an average of 3.08% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1925 bought what $0.15 buys in 1988.
| Amount in 1925 | Value in 1988 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $6.76 |
| $5.00 | $33.80 |
| $10.00 | $67.60 |
| $20.00 | $135 |
| $50.00 | $338 |
| $100 | $676 |
| $500 | $3,380 |
| $1,000 | $6,760 |
| $5,000 | $33,800 |
| $10,000 | $67,600 |
| $100,000 | $676,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $6,760,000 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1925 spending costs in 1988, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1925 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.08% | $676 |
| Food | 3.17% | $716 |
| Apparel | 2.38% | $439 |
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 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $676 |
Long periods are sampled every 5 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1925 to 1988: $100 is worth $676 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1925-to-1988/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1925 to 1988. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1925-to-1988/
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.