U.S. inflation · 1956–2012
$100 in 1956 has the same buying power as
$844
in 2012
| Cumulative price change | 744.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.88% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $844 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $744 |
| CPI in 1956 | 27.2 |
| CPI in 2012 | 229.594 |
| Inflation in 1956 | 1.49% |
| Inflation in 2012 | 2.07% |
| $100 in 1956 → 2012 | $844 |
| $100 in 2012 → 1956 | $11.85 |
Between 1956 and 2012, the Consumer Price Index went from 27.2 to 229.594. Cumulatively, prices increased 744.1%, which works out to an average of 3.88% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1956 bought what $0.12 buys in 2012.
| Amount in 1956 | Value in 2012 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $8.44 |
| $5.00 | $42.20 |
| $10.00 | $84.41 |
| $20.00 | $169 |
| $50.00 | $422 |
| $100 | $844 |
| $500 | $4,220 |
| $1,000 | $8,441 |
| $5,000 | $42,205 |
| $10,000 | $84,410 |
| $100,000 | $844,096 |
| $1,000,000 | $8,440,956 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1956 spending costs in 2012, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1956 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.88% | $844 |
| Medical care | 5.67% | $2,195 |
| Food | 3.86% | $835 |
| Transportation | 3.85% | $830 |
| Apparel | 1.91% | $289 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1956: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1956 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | 27.2 | 1.5% | $100 |
| 1958 | 28.9 | 2.8% | $106 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | 1.7% | $109 |
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $111 |
| 1964 | 31 | 1.3% | $114 |
| 1966 | 32.4 | 2.9% | $119 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $128 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $143 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $154 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $181 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $209 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $240 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $303 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $355 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $382 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $403 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $435 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $481 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $516 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $545 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $577 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $599 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $633 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $661 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $694 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $741 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $792 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $802 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $844 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1956 to 2012: $100 is worth $844 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1956-to-2012/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1956 to 2012. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1956-to-2012/
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.