U.S. inflation · 1950–1997
$100 in 1950 has the same buying power as
$666
in 1997
| Cumulative price change | 566.0% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.12% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $666 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $566 |
| CPI in 1950 | 24.1 |
| CPI in 1997 | 160.5 |
| Inflation in 1950 | 1.26% |
| Inflation in 1997 | 2.29% |
| $100 in 1950 → 1997 | $666 |
| $100 in 1997 → 1950 | $15.02 |
Between 1950 and 1997, the Consumer Price Index went from 24.1 to 160.5. Cumulatively, prices increased 566.0%, which works out to an average of 4.12% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1950 bought what $0.15 buys in 1997.
| Amount in 1950 | Value in 1997 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $6.66 |
| $5.00 | $33.30 |
| $10.00 | $66.60 |
| $20.00 | $133 |
| $50.00 | $333 |
| $100 | $666 |
| $500 | $3,330 |
| $1,000 | $6,660 |
| $5,000 | $33,299 |
| $10,000 | $66,598 |
| $100,000 | $665,975 |
| $1,000,000 | $6,659,751 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1950 spending costs in 1997, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1950 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.12% | $666 |
| Medical care | 6.01% | $1,554 |
| Transportation | 4.01% | $636 |
| Food | 3.96% | $619 |
| Apparel | 2.57% | $330 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1950: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1950 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | 24.1 | 1.3% | $100 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $110 |
| 1954 | 26.9 | 0.7% | $112 |
| 1956 | 27.2 | 1.5% | $113 |
| 1958 | 28.9 | 2.8% | $120 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | 1.7% | $123 |
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $125 |
| 1964 | 31 | 1.3% | $129 |
| 1966 | 32.4 | 2.9% | $134 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $144 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $161 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $173 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $205 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $236 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $271 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $342 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $400 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $431 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $455 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $491 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $542 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $582 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $615 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $651 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $666 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1950 to 1997: $100 is worth $666 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1950-to-1997/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1950 to 1997. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1950-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.