U.S. inflation · 1958–2020
$100 in 1958 has the same buying power as
$896
in 2020
| Cumulative price change | 795.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.60% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $896 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $796 |
| CPI in 1958 | 28.9 |
| CPI in 2020 | 258.811 |
| Inflation in 1958 | 2.85% |
| Inflation in 2020 | 1.23% |
| $100 in 1958 → 2020 | $896 |
| $100 in 2020 → 1958 | $11.17 |
Between 1958 and 2020, the Consumer Price Index went from 28.9 to 258.811. Cumulatively, prices increased 795.5%, which works out to an average of 3.60% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1958 bought what $0.11 buys in 2020.
| Amount in 1958 | Value in 2020 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $8.96 |
| $5.00 | $44.78 |
| $10.00 | $89.55 |
| $20.00 | $179 |
| $50.00 | $448 |
| $100 | $896 |
| $500 | $4,478 |
| $1,000 | $8,955 |
| $5,000 | $44,777 |
| $10,000 | $89,554 |
| $100,000 | $895,540 |
| $1,000,000 | $8,955,398 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1958 spending costs in 2020, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1958 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.60% | $896 |
| Medical care | 5.34% | $2,519 |
| Energy | 3.64% | $916 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.62% | $904 |
| Food | 3.58% | $885 |
| Transportation | 3.20% | $704 |
| Apparel | 1.58% | $265 |
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 |
| 1963 | 30.6 | 1.3% | $106 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $120 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $154 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $226 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $345 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $409 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $500 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $564 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $637 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $745 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $806 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $869 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $896 |
Long periods are sampled every 5 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1958 to 2020: $100 is worth $896 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1958-to-2020/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1958 to 2020. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1958-to-2020/
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.