U.S. inflation · 1960–1988
$100 in 1960 has the same buying power as
$400
in 1988
| Cumulative price change | 299.7% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 5.07% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $400 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $300 |
| CPI in 1960 | 29.6 |
| CPI in 1988 | 118.3 |
| Inflation in 1960 | 1.72% |
| Inflation in 1988 | 4.14% |
| $100 in 1960 → 1988 | $400 |
| $100 in 1988 → 1960 | $25.02 |
Between 1960 and 1988, the Consumer Price Index went from 29.6 to 118.3. Cumulatively, prices increased 299.7%, which works out to an average of 5.07% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1960 bought what $0.25 buys in 1988.
| Amount in 1960 | Value in 1988 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $4.00 |
| $5.00 | $19.98 |
| $10.00 | $39.97 |
| $20.00 | $79.93 |
| $50.00 | $200 |
| $100 | $400 |
| $500 | $1,998 |
| $1,000 | $3,997 |
| $5,000 | $19,983 |
| $10,000 | $39,966 |
| $100,000 | $399,662 |
| $1,000,000 | $3,996,622 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1960 spending costs in 1988, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1960 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 5.07% | $400 |
| Medical care | 6.74% | $622 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 5.11% | $403 |
| Energy | 5.06% | $399 |
| Food | 5.02% | $394 |
| Transportation | 4.73% | $365 |
| Apparel | 3.36% | $253 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1960: housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1960 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1960 | 29.6 | 1.7% | $100 |
| 1961 | 29.9 | 1.0% | $101 |
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $102 |
| 1963 | 30.6 | 1.3% | $103 |
| 1964 | 31 | 1.3% | $105 |
| 1965 | 31.5 | 1.6% | $106 |
| 1966 | 32.4 | 2.9% | $109 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $113 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $118 |
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $124 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $131 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $137 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $141 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $150 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $167 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $182 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $192 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $205 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $220 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $245 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $278 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $307 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $326 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $336 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $351 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $364 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $370 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $384 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $400 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1960 to 1988: $100 is worth $400 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1960-to-1988/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1960 to 1988. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1960-to-1988/
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.