U.S. inflation · 1958–2012
$100 in 1958 has the same buying power as
$794
in 2012
| Cumulative price change | 694.4% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.91% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $794 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $694 |
| CPI in 1958 | 28.9 |
| CPI in 2012 | 229.594 |
| Inflation in 1958 | 2.85% |
| Inflation in 2012 | 2.07% |
| $100 in 1958 → 2012 | $794 |
| $100 in 2012 → 1958 | $12.59 |
Between 1958 and 2012, the Consumer Price Index went from 28.9 to 229.594. Cumulatively, prices increased 694.4%, which works out to an average of 3.91% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1958 bought what $0.13 buys in 2012.
| Amount in 1958 | Value in 2012 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $7.94 |
| $5.00 | $39.72 |
| $10.00 | $79.44 |
| $20.00 | $159 |
| $50.00 | $397 |
| $100 | $794 |
| $500 | $3,972 |
| $1,000 | $7,944 |
| $5,000 | $39,722 |
| $10,000 | $79,444 |
| $100,000 | $794,443 |
| $1,000,000 | $7,944,429 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1958 spending costs in 2012, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1958 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.91% | $794 |
| Medical care | 5.72% | $2,014 |
| Energy | 4.62% | $1,145 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.87% | $776 |
| Food | 3.86% | $774 |
| Transportation | 3.83% | $760 |
| Apparel | 1.95% | $283 |
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 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $564 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $596 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $622 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $654 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $698 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $745 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $755 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $794 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1958 to 2012: $100 is worth $794 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1958-to-2012/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1958 to 2012. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1958-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.