U.S. inflation · 1960–2015
$100 in 1960 has the same buying power as
$801
in 2015
| Cumulative price change | 700.7% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.85% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $801 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $701 |
| CPI in 1960 | 29.6 |
| CPI in 2015 | 237.017 |
| Inflation in 1960 | 1.72% |
| Inflation in 2015 | 0.12% |
| $100 in 1960 → 2015 | $801 |
| $100 in 2015 → 1960 | $12.49 |
Between 1960 and 2015, the Consumer Price Index went from 29.6 to 237.017. Cumulatively, prices increased 700.7%, which works out to an average of 3.85% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1960 bought what $0.12 buys in 2015.
| Amount in 1960 | Value in 2015 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $8.01 |
| $5.00 | $40.04 |
| $10.00 | $80.07 |
| $20.00 | $160 |
| $50.00 | $400 |
| $100 | $801 |
| $500 | $4,004 |
| $1,000 | $8,007 |
| $5,000 | $40,037 |
| $10,000 | $80,073 |
| $100,000 | $800,733 |
| $1,000,000 | $8,007,331 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1960 spending costs in 2015, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1960 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.85% | $801 |
| Medical care | 5.60% | $2,003 |
| Energy | 4.09% | $906 |
| Food | 3.91% | $824 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.83% | $792 |
| Transportation | 3.51% | $668 |
| Apparel | 1.86% | $275 |
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 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $681 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $727 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $737 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $776 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $800 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $801 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1960 to 2015: $100 is worth $801 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1960-to-2015/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1960 to 2015. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1960-to-2015/
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.