U.S. inflation · 1957–1996
$100 in 1957 has the same buying power as
$558
in 1996
| Cumulative price change | 458.4% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.51% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $558 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $458 |
| CPI in 1957 | 28.1 |
| CPI in 1996 | 156.9 |
| Inflation in 1957 | 3.31% |
| Inflation in 1996 | 2.95% |
| $100 in 1957 → 1996 | $558 |
| $100 in 1996 → 1957 | $17.91 |
Between 1957 and 1996, the Consumer Price Index went from 28.1 to 156.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 458.4%, which works out to an average of 4.51% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1957 bought what $0.18 buys in 1996.
| Amount in 1957 | Value in 1996 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $5.58 |
| $5.00 | $27.92 |
| $10.00 | $55.84 |
| $20.00 | $112 |
| $50.00 | $279 |
| $100 | $558 |
| $500 | $2,792 |
| $1,000 | $5,584 |
| $5,000 | $27,918 |
| $10,000 | $55,836 |
| $100,000 | $558,363 |
| $1,000,000 | $5,583,630 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1957 spending costs in 1996, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1957 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.51% | $558 |
| Medical care | 6.48% | $1,158 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.58% | $573 |
| Food | 4.37% | $530 |
| Transportation | 4.30% | $516 |
| Energy | 4.28% | $512 |
| Apparel | 2.82% | $296 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1957: housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1957 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1957 | 28.1 | 3.3% | $100 |
| 1959 | 29.1 | 0.7% | $104 |
| 1961 | 29.9 | 1.0% | $106 |
| 1963 | 30.6 | 1.3% | $109 |
| 1965 | 31.5 | 1.6% | $112 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $119 |
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $131 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $144 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $158 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $191 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $216 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $258 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $323 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $354 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $383 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $404 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $441 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $485 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $514 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $542 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $558 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1957 to 1996: $100 is worth $558 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1957-to-1996/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1957 to 1996. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1957-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.