U.S. inflation · 1949–1996
$100 in 1949 has the same buying power as
$659
in 1996
| Cumulative price change | 559.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.09% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $659 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $559 |
| CPI in 1949 | 23.8 |
| CPI in 1996 | 156.9 |
| Inflation in 1949 | -1.24% |
| Inflation in 1996 | 2.95% |
| $100 in 1949 → 1996 | $659 |
| $100 in 1996 → 1949 | $15.17 |
Between 1949 and 1996, the Consumer Price Index went from 23.8 to 156.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 559.2%, which works out to an average of 4.09% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1949 bought what $0.15 buys in 1996.
| Amount in 1949 | Value in 1996 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $6.59 |
| $5.00 | $32.96 |
| $10.00 | $65.92 |
| $20.00 | $132 |
| $50.00 | $330 |
| $100 | $659 |
| $500 | $3,296 |
| $1,000 | $6,592 |
| $5,000 | $32,962 |
| $10,000 | $65,924 |
| $100,000 | $659,244 |
| $1,000,000 | $6,592,437 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1949 spending costs in 1996, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1949 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.09% | $659 |
| Medical care | 5.99% | $1,542 |
| Transportation | 4.05% | $647 |
| Food | 3.93% | $613 |
| Apparel | 2.52% | $323 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1949: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1949 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1949 | 23.8 | -1.2% | $100 |
| 1951 | 26 | 7.9% | $109 |
| 1953 | 26.7 | 0.8% | $112 |
| 1955 | 26.8 | -0.4% | $113 |
| 1957 | 28.1 | 3.3% | $118 |
| 1959 | 29.1 | 0.7% | $122 |
| 1961 | 29.9 | 1.0% | $126 |
| 1963 | 30.6 | 1.3% | $129 |
| 1965 | 31.5 | 1.6% | $132 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $140 |
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $154 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $170 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $187 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $226 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $255 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $305 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $382 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $418 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $452 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $477 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $521 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $572 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $607 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $640 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $659 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1949 to 1996: $100 is worth $659 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1949-to-1996/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1949 to 1996. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1949-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.