U.S. inflation · 1960–2004
$100 in 1960 has the same buying power as
$638
in 2004
| Cumulative price change | 538.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.30% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $638 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $538 |
| CPI in 1960 | 29.6 |
| CPI in 2004 | 188.9 |
| Inflation in 1960 | 1.72% |
| Inflation in 2004 | 2.66% |
| $100 in 1960 → 2004 | $638 |
| $100 in 2004 → 1960 | $15.67 |
Between 1960 and 2004, the Consumer Price Index went from 29.6 to 188.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 538.2%, which works out to an average of 4.30% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1960 bought what $0.16 buys in 2004.
| Amount in 1960 | Value in 2004 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $6.38 |
| $5.00 | $31.91 |
| $10.00 | $63.82 |
| $20.00 | $128 |
| $50.00 | $319 |
| $100 | $638 |
| $500 | $3,191 |
| $1,000 | $6,382 |
| $5,000 | $31,909 |
| $10,000 | $63,818 |
| $100,000 | $638,176 |
| $1,000,000 | $6,381,757 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1960 spending costs in 2004, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1960 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.30% | $638 |
| Medical care | 6.17% | $1,391 |
| Energy | 4.44% | $676 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.32% | $642 |
| Food | 4.24% | $621 |
| Transportation | 3.94% | $547 |
| Apparel | 2.23% | $263 |
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 |
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $102 |
| 1964 | 31 | 1.3% | $105 |
| 1966 | 32.4 | 2.9% | $109 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $118 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $131 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $141 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $167 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $192 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $220 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $278 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $326 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $351 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $370 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $400 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $442 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $474 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $501 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $530 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $551 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $582 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $608 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $638 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1960 to 2004: $100 is worth $638 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1960-to-2004/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1960 to 2004. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1960-to-2004/
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.