U.S. inflation · 1934–1978
$100 in 1934 has the same buying power as
$487
in 1978
| Cumulative price change | 386.6% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.66% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $487 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $387 |
| CPI in 1934 | 13.4 |
| CPI in 1978 | 65.2 |
| Inflation in 1934 | 3.08% |
| Inflation in 1978 | 7.59% |
| $100 in 1934 → 1978 | $487 |
| $100 in 1978 → 1934 | $20.55 |
Between 1934 and 1978, the Consumer Price Index went from 13.4 to 65.2. Cumulatively, prices increased 386.6%, which works out to an average of 3.66% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1934 bought what $0.21 buys in 1978.
| Amount in 1934 | Value in 1978 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $4.87 |
| $5.00 | $24.33 |
| $10.00 | $48.66 |
| $20.00 | $97.31 |
| $50.00 | $243 |
| $100 | $487 |
| $500 | $2,433 |
| $1,000 | $4,866 |
| $5,000 | $24,328 |
| $10,000 | $48,657 |
| $100,000 | $486,567 |
| $1,000,000 | $4,865,672 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1934 spending costs in 1978, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1934 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.66% | $487 |
| Food | 4.24% | $621 |
| Apparel | 3.17% | $395 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1934: 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 1934 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1934 | 13.4 | 3.1% | $100 |
| 1936 | 13.9 | 1.5% | $104 |
| 1938 | 14.1 | -2.1% | $105 |
| 1940 | 14 | 0.7% | $104 |
| 1942 | 16.3 | 10.9% | $122 |
| 1944 | 17.6 | 1.7% | $131 |
| 1946 | 19.5 | 8.3% | $146 |
| 1948 | 24.1 | 8.1% | $180 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | 1.3% | $180 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $198 |
| 1954 | 26.9 | 0.7% | $201 |
| 1956 | 27.2 | 1.5% | $203 |
| 1958 | 28.9 | 2.8% | $216 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | 1.7% | $221 |
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $225 |
| 1964 | 31 | 1.3% | $231 |
| 1966 | 32.4 | 2.9% | $242 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $260 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $290 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $312 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $368 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $425 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $487 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1934 to 1978: $100 is worth $487 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1934-to-1978/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1934 to 1978. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1934-to-1978/
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.