U.S. inflation · 1958–1986
$100 in 1958 has the same buying power as
$379
in 1986
| Cumulative price change | 279.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.88% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $379 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $279 |
| CPI in 1958 | 28.9 |
| CPI in 1986 | 109.6 |
| Inflation in 1958 | 2.85% |
| Inflation in 1986 | 1.86% |
| $100 in 1958 → 1986 | $379 |
| $100 in 1986 → 1958 | $26.37 |
Between 1958 and 1986, the Consumer Price Index went from 28.9 to 109.6. Cumulatively, prices increased 279.2%, which works out to an average of 4.88% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1958 bought what $0.26 buys in 1986.
| Amount in 1958 | Value in 1986 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $3.79 |
| $5.00 | $18.96 |
| $10.00 | $37.92 |
| $20.00 | $75.85 |
| $50.00 | $190 |
| $100 | $379 |
| $500 | $1,896 |
| $1,000 | $3,792 |
| $5,000 | $18,962 |
| $10,000 | $37,924 |
| $100,000 | $379,239 |
| $1,000,000 | $3,792,388 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1958 spending costs in 1986, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1958 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.88% | $379 |
| Medical care | 6.56% | $592 |
| Energy | 5.17% | $410 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.92% | $383 |
| Food | 4.69% | $361 |
| Transportation | 4.66% | $358 |
| Apparel | 3.14% | $237 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1958: housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1958 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1958 | 28.9 | 2.8% | $100 |
| 1959 | 29.1 | 0.7% | $101 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | 1.7% | $102 |
| 1961 | 29.9 | 1.0% | $103 |
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $104 |
| 1963 | 30.6 | 1.3% | $106 |
| 1964 | 31 | 1.3% | $107 |
| 1965 | 31.5 | 1.6% | $109 |
| 1966 | 32.4 | 2.9% | $112 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $116 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $120 |
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $127 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $134 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $140 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $145 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $154 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $171 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $186 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $197 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $210 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $226 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $251 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $285 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $315 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $334 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $345 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $360 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $372 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $379 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1958 to 1986: $100 is worth $379 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1958-to-1986/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1958 to 1986. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1958-to-1986/
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.