U.S. inflation · 1952–1988
$100 in 1952 has the same buying power as
$446
in 1988
| Cumulative price change | 346.4% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.24% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $446 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $346 |
| CPI in 1952 | 26.5 |
| CPI in 1988 | 118.3 |
| Inflation in 1952 | 1.92% |
| Inflation in 1988 | 4.14% |
| $100 in 1952 → 1988 | $446 |
| $100 in 1988 → 1952 | $22.40 |
Between 1952 and 1988, the Consumer Price Index went from 26.5 to 118.3. Cumulatively, prices increased 346.4%, which works out to an average of 4.24% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1952 bought what $0.22 buys in 1988.
| Amount in 1952 | Value in 1988 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $4.46 |
| $5.00 | $22.32 |
| $10.00 | $44.64 |
| $20.00 | $89.28 |
| $50.00 | $223 |
| $100 | $446 |
| $500 | $2,232 |
| $1,000 | $4,464 |
| $5,000 | $22,321 |
| $10,000 | $44,642 |
| $100,000 | $446,415 |
| $1,000,000 | $4,464,151 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1952 spending costs in 1988, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1952 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.24% | $446 |
| Medical care | 6.05% | $830 |
| Transportation | 4.09% | $423 |
| Food | 4.01% | $412 |
| Apparel | 2.75% | $265 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1952: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1952 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $100 |
| 1954 | 26.9 | 0.7% | $102 |
| 1956 | 27.2 | 1.5% | $103 |
| 1958 | 28.9 | 2.8% | $109 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | 1.7% | $112 |
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $114 |
| 1964 | 31 | 1.3% | $117 |
| 1966 | 32.4 | 2.9% | $122 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $131 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $146 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $158 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $186 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $215 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $246 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $311 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $364 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $392 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $414 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $446 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1952 to 1988: $100 is worth $446 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1952-to-1988/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1952 to 1988. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1952-to-1988/
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.