U.S. inflation · 1958–1996
$100 in 1958 has the same buying power as
$543
in 1996
| Cumulative price change | 442.9% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.55% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $543 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $443 |
| CPI in 1958 | 28.9 |
| CPI in 1996 | 156.9 |
| Inflation in 1958 | 2.85% |
| Inflation in 1996 | 2.95% |
| $100 in 1958 → 1996 | $543 |
| $100 in 1996 → 1958 | $18.42 |
Between 1958 and 1996, the Consumer Price Index went from 28.9 to 156.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 442.9%, which works out to an average of 4.55% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1958 bought what $0.18 buys in 1996.
| Amount in 1958 | Value in 1996 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $5.43 |
| $5.00 | $27.15 |
| $10.00 | $54.29 |
| $20.00 | $109 |
| $50.00 | $271 |
| $100 | $543 |
| $500 | $2,715 |
| $1,000 | $5,429 |
| $5,000 | $27,145 |
| $10,000 | $54,291 |
| $100,000 | $542,907 |
| $1,000,000 | $5,429,066 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1958 spending costs in 1996, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1958 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.55% | $543 |
| Medical care | 6.53% | $1,108 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.64% | $559 |
| Energy | 4.39% | $512 |
| Food | 4.37% | $508 |
| Transportation | 4.33% | $500 |
| Apparel | 2.89% | $295 |
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 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | 1.7% | $102 |
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $104 |
| 1964 | 31 | 1.3% | $107 |
| 1966 | 32.4 | 2.9% | $112 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $120 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $134 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $145 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $171 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $197 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $226 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $285 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $334 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $360 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $379 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $409 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $452 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $485 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $513 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $543 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1958 to 1996: $100 is worth $543 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1958-to-1996/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1958 to 1996. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1958-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.