U.S. inflation · 1953–1991
$100 in 1953 has the same buying power as
$510
in 1991
| Cumulative price change | 410.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.38% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $510 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $410 |
| CPI in 1953 | 26.7 |
| CPI in 1991 | 136.2 |
| Inflation in 1953 | 0.75% |
| Inflation in 1991 | 4.21% |
| $100 in 1953 → 1991 | $510 |
| $100 in 1991 → 1953 | $19.60 |
Between 1953 and 1991, the Consumer Price Index went from 26.7 to 136.2. Cumulatively, prices increased 410.1%, which works out to an average of 4.38% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1953 bought what $0.20 buys in 1991.
| Amount in 1953 | Value in 1991 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $5.10 |
| $5.00 | $25.51 |
| $10.00 | $51.01 |
| $20.00 | $102 |
| $50.00 | $255 |
| $100 | $510 |
| $500 | $2,551 |
| $1,000 | $5,101 |
| $5,000 | $25,506 |
| $10,000 | $51,011 |
| $100,000 | $510,112 |
| $1,000,000 | $5,101,124 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1953 spending costs in 1991, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1953 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.38% | $510 |
| Medical care | 6.31% | $1,023 |
| Food | 4.22% | $482 |
| Transportation | 4.14% | $467 |
| Apparel | 2.92% | $299 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1953: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1953 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1953 | 26.7 | 0.8% | $100 |
| 1955 | 26.8 | -0.4% | $100 |
| 1957 | 28.1 | 3.3% | $105 |
| 1959 | 29.1 | 0.7% | $109 |
| 1961 | 29.9 | 1.0% | $112 |
| 1963 | 30.6 | 1.3% | $115 |
| 1965 | 31.5 | 1.6% | $118 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $125 |
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $137 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $152 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $166 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $201 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $227 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $272 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $340 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $373 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $403 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $425 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $464 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $510 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1953 to 1991: $100 is worth $510 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1953-to-1991/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1953 to 1991. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1953-to-1991/
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.