U.S. inflation · 1932–1996
$100 in 1932 has the same buying power as
$1,145
in 1996
| Cumulative price change | 1045.3% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.88% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $1,145 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $1,045 |
| CPI in 1932 | 13.7 |
| CPI in 1996 | 156.9 |
| Inflation in 1932 | -9.87% |
| Inflation in 1996 | 2.95% |
| $100 in 1932 → 1996 | $1,145 |
| $100 in 1996 → 1932 | $8.73 |
Between 1932 and 1996, the Consumer Price Index went from 13.7 to 156.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 1045.3%, which works out to an average of 3.88% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1932 bought what $0.09 buys in 1996.
| Amount in 1932 | Value in 1996 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $11.45 |
| $5.00 | $57.26 |
| $10.00 | $115 |
| $20.00 | $229 |
| $50.00 | $573 |
| $100 | $1,145 |
| $500 | $5,726 |
| $1,000 | $11,453 |
| $5,000 | $57,263 |
| $10,000 | $114,526 |
| $100,000 | $1,145,255 |
| $1,000,000 | $11,452,555 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1932 spending costs in 1996, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1932 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.88% | $1,145 |
| Food | 4.25% | $1,433 |
| Apparel | 3.03% | $675 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1932: 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 1932 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1932 | 13.7 | -9.9% | $100 |
| 1937 | 14.4 | 3.6% | $105 |
| 1942 | 16.3 | 10.9% | $119 |
| 1947 | 22.3 | 14.4% | $163 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $193 |
| 1957 | 28.1 | 3.3% | $205 |
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $220 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $244 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $305 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $442 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $704 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $829 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $1,024 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $1,145 |
Long periods are sampled every 5 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1932 to 1996: $100 is worth $1,145 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1932-to-1996/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1932 to 1996. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1932-to-1996/
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.