U.S. inflation · 1935–1997
$100 in 1935 has the same buying power as
$1,172
in 1997
| Cumulative price change | 1071.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.05% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $1,172 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $1,072 |
| CPI in 1935 | 13.7 |
| CPI in 1997 | 160.5 |
| Inflation in 1935 | 2.24% |
| Inflation in 1997 | 2.29% |
| $100 in 1935 → 1997 | $1,172 |
| $100 in 1997 → 1935 | $8.54 |
Between 1935 and 1997, the Consumer Price Index went from 13.7 to 160.5. Cumulatively, prices increased 1071.5%, which works out to an average of 4.05% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1935 bought what $0.09 buys in 1997.
| Amount in 1935 | Value in 1997 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $11.72 |
| $5.00 | $58.58 |
| $10.00 | $117 |
| $20.00 | $234 |
| $50.00 | $586 |
| $100 | $1,172 |
| $500 | $5,858 |
| $1,000 | $11,715 |
| $5,000 | $58,577 |
| $10,000 | $117,153 |
| $100,000 | $1,171,533 |
| $1,000,000 | $11,715,328 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1935 spending costs in 1997, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1935 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.05% | $1,172 |
| Medical care | 5.19% | $2,300 |
| Food | 4.18% | $1,269 |
| Transportation | 3.81% | $1,016 |
| Apparel | 3.04% | $639 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1935: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1935 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | 13.7 | 2.2% | $100 |
| 1940 | 14 | 0.7% | $102 |
| 1945 | 18 | 2.3% | $131 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | 1.3% | $176 |
| 1955 | 26.8 | -0.4% | $196 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | 1.7% | $216 |
| 1965 | 31.5 | 1.6% | $230 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $283 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $393 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $601 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $785 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $954 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $1,112 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $1,172 |
Long periods are sampled every 5 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1935 to 1997: $100 is worth $1,172 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1935-to-1997/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1935 to 1997. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1935-to-1997/
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.