U.S. inflation · 1951–1996
$100 in 1951 has the same buying power as
$603
in 1996
| Cumulative price change | 503.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.08% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $603 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $503 |
| CPI in 1951 | 26 |
| CPI in 1996 | 156.9 |
| Inflation in 1951 | 7.88% |
| Inflation in 1996 | 2.95% |
| $100 in 1951 → 1996 | $603 |
| $100 in 1996 → 1951 | $16.57 |
Between 1951 and 1996, the Consumer Price Index went from 26 to 156.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 503.5%, which works out to an average of 4.08% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1951 bought what $0.17 buys in 1996.
| Amount in 1951 | Value in 1996 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $6.03 |
| $5.00 | $30.17 |
| $10.00 | $60.35 |
| $20.00 | $121 |
| $50.00 | $302 |
| $100 | $603 |
| $500 | $3,017 |
| $1,000 | $6,035 |
| $5,000 | $30,173 |
| $10,000 | $60,346 |
| $100,000 | $603,462 |
| $1,000,000 | $6,034,615 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1951 spending costs in 1996, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1951 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.08% | $603 |
| Medical care | 6.10% | $1,435 |
| Transportation | 4.04% | $593 |
| Food | 3.83% | $544 |
| Apparel | 2.47% | $300 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1951: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1951 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1951 | 26 | 7.9% | $100 |
| 1953 | 26.7 | 0.8% | $103 |
| 1955 | 26.8 | -0.4% | $103 |
| 1957 | 28.1 | 3.3% | $108 |
| 1959 | 29.1 | 0.7% | $112 |
| 1961 | 29.9 | 1.0% | $115 |
| 1963 | 30.6 | 1.3% | $118 |
| 1965 | 31.5 | 1.6% | $121 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $128 |
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $141 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $156 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $171 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $207 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $233 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $279 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $350 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $383 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $414 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $437 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $477 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $524 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $556 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $586 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $603 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1951 to 1996: $100 is worth $603 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1951-to-1996/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1951 to 1996. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1951-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.