U.S. inflation · 1946–1974
$100 in 1946 has the same buying power as
$253
in 1974
| Cumulative price change | 152.8% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.37% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $253 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $153 |
| CPI in 1946 | 19.5 |
| CPI in 1974 | 49.3 |
| Inflation in 1946 | 8.33% |
| Inflation in 1974 | 11.04% |
| $100 in 1946 → 1974 | $253 |
| $100 in 1974 → 1946 | $39.55 |
Between 1946 and 1974, the Consumer Price Index went from 19.5 to 49.3. Cumulatively, prices increased 152.8%, which works out to an average of 3.37% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1946 bought what $0.40 buys in 1974.
| Amount in 1946 | Value in 1974 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.53 |
| $5.00 | $12.64 |
| $10.00 | $25.28 |
| $20.00 | $50.56 |
| $50.00 | $126 |
| $100 | $253 |
| $500 | $1,264 |
| $1,000 | $2,528 |
| $5,000 | $12,641 |
| $10,000 | $25,282 |
| $100,000 | $252,821 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,528,205 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1946 spending costs in 1974, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1946 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.37% | $253 |
| Medical care | 4.46% | $339 |
| Food | 3.72% | $278 |
| Transportation | 3.67% | $274 |
| Apparel | 2.54% | $202 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1946: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1946 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1946 | 19.5 | 8.3% | $100 |
| 1947 | 22.3 | 14.4% | $114 |
| 1948 | 24.1 | 8.1% | $124 |
| 1949 | 23.8 | -1.2% | $122 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | 1.3% | $124 |
| 1951 | 26 | 7.9% | $133 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $136 |
| 1953 | 26.7 | 0.8% | $137 |
| 1954 | 26.9 | 0.7% | $138 |
| 1955 | 26.8 | -0.4% | $137 |
| 1956 | 27.2 | 1.5% | $139 |
| 1957 | 28.1 | 3.3% | $144 |
| 1958 | 28.9 | 2.8% | $148 |
| 1959 | 29.1 | 0.7% | $149 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | 1.7% | $152 |
| 1961 | 29.9 | 1.0% | $153 |
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $155 |
| 1963 | 30.6 | 1.3% | $157 |
| 1964 | 31 | 1.3% | $159 |
| 1965 | 31.5 | 1.6% | $162 |
| 1966 | 32.4 | 2.9% | $166 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $171 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $178 |
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $188 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $199 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $208 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $214 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $228 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $253 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1946 to 1974: $100 is worth $253 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1946-to-1974/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1946 to 1974. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1946-to-1974/
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.