U.S. inflation · 1944–1972
$100 in 1944 has the same buying power as
$237
in 1972
| Cumulative price change | 137.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.14% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $237 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $137 |
| CPI in 1944 | 17.6 |
| CPI in 1972 | 41.8 |
| Inflation in 1944 | 1.73% |
| Inflation in 1972 | 3.21% |
| $100 in 1944 → 1972 | $237 |
| $100 in 1972 → 1944 | $42.11 |
Between 1944 and 1972, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.6 to 41.8. Cumulatively, prices increased 137.5%, which works out to an average of 3.14% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1944 bought what $0.42 buys in 1972.
| Amount in 1944 | Value in 1972 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.37 |
| $5.00 | $11.87 |
| $10.00 | $23.75 |
| $20.00 | $47.50 |
| $50.00 | $119 |
| $100 | $237 |
| $500 | $1,187 |
| $1,000 | $2,375 |
| $5,000 | $11,875 |
| $10,000 | $23,750 |
| $100,000 | $237,500 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,375,000 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1944 spending costs in 1972, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1944 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.14% | $237 |
| Medical care | 4.26% | $322 |
| Transportation | 3.34% | $251 |
| Food | 3.31% | $249 |
| Apparel | 2.67% | $209 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1944: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1944 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1944 | 17.6 | 1.7% | $100 |
| 1945 | 18 | 2.3% | $102 |
| 1946 | 19.5 | 8.3% | $111 |
| 1947 | 22.3 | 14.4% | $127 |
| 1948 | 24.1 | 8.1% | $137 |
| 1949 | 23.8 | -1.2% | $135 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | 1.3% | $137 |
| 1951 | 26 | 7.9% | $148 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $151 |
| 1953 | 26.7 | 0.8% | $152 |
| 1954 | 26.9 | 0.7% | $153 |
| 1955 | 26.8 | -0.4% | $152 |
| 1956 | 27.2 | 1.5% | $155 |
| 1957 | 28.1 | 3.3% | $160 |
| 1958 | 28.9 | 2.8% | $164 |
| 1959 | 29.1 | 0.7% | $165 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | 1.7% | $168 |
| 1961 | 29.9 | 1.0% | $170 |
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $172 |
| 1963 | 30.6 | 1.3% | $174 |
| 1964 | 31 | 1.3% | $176 |
| 1965 | 31.5 | 1.6% | $179 |
| 1966 | 32.4 | 2.9% | $184 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $190 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $198 |
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $209 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $220 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $230 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $237 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1944 to 1972: $100 is worth $237 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1944-to-1972/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1944 to 1972. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1944-to-1972/
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.