U.S. inflation · 1931–1986
$100 in 1931 has the same buying power as
$721
in 1986
| Cumulative price change | 621.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.66% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $721 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $621 |
| CPI in 1931 | 15.2 |
| CPI in 1986 | 109.6 |
| Inflation in 1931 | -8.98% |
| Inflation in 1986 | 1.86% |
| $100 in 1931 → 1986 | $721 |
| $100 in 1986 → 1931 | $13.87 |
Between 1931 and 1986, the Consumer Price Index went from 15.2 to 109.6. Cumulatively, prices increased 621.1%, which works out to an average of 3.66% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1931 bought what $0.14 buys in 1986.
| Amount in 1931 | Value in 1986 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $7.21 |
| $5.00 | $36.05 |
| $10.00 | $72.11 |
| $20.00 | $144 |
| $50.00 | $361 |
| $100 | $721 |
| $500 | $3,605 |
| $1,000 | $7,211 |
| $5,000 | $36,053 |
| $10,000 | $72,105 |
| $100,000 | $721,053 |
| $1,000,000 | $7,210,526 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1931 spending costs in 1986, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1931 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.66% | $721 |
| Food | 3.96% | $845 |
| Apparel | 2.90% | $481 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1931: 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 1931 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 15.2 | -9.0% | $100 |
| 1933 | 13 | -5.1% | $85.53 |
| 1935 | 13.7 | 2.2% | $90.13 |
| 1937 | 14.4 | 3.6% | $94.74 |
| 1939 | 13.9 | -1.4% | $91.45 |
| 1941 | 14.7 | 5.0% | $96.71 |
| 1943 | 17.3 | 6.1% | $114 |
| 1945 | 18 | 2.3% | $118 |
| 1947 | 22.3 | 14.4% | $147 |
| 1949 | 23.8 | -1.2% | $157 |
| 1951 | 26 | 7.9% | $171 |
| 1953 | 26.7 | 0.8% | $176 |
| 1955 | 26.8 | -0.4% | $176 |
| 1957 | 28.1 | 3.3% | $185 |
| 1959 | 29.1 | 0.7% | $191 |
| 1961 | 29.9 | 1.0% | $197 |
| 1963 | 30.6 | 1.3% | $201 |
| 1965 | 31.5 | 1.6% | $207 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $220 |
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $241 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $266 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $292 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $354 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $399 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $478 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $598 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $655 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $708 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $721 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1931 to 1986: $100 is worth $721 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1931-to-1986/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1931 to 1986. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1931-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.