U.S. inflation · 1962–1996
$100 in 1962 has the same buying power as
$520
in 1996
| Cumulative price change | 419.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.97% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $520 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $420 |
| CPI in 1962 | 30.2 |
| CPI in 1996 | 156.9 |
| Inflation in 1962 | 1.00% |
| Inflation in 1996 | 2.95% |
| $100 in 1962 → 1996 | $520 |
| $100 in 1996 → 1962 | $19.25 |
Between 1962 and 1996, the Consumer Price Index went from 30.2 to 156.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 419.5%, which works out to an average of 4.97% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1962 bought what $0.19 buys in 1996.
| Amount in 1962 | Value in 1996 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $5.20 |
| $5.00 | $25.98 |
| $10.00 | $51.95 |
| $20.00 | $104 |
| $50.00 | $260 |
| $100 | $520 |
| $500 | $2,598 |
| $1,000 | $5,195 |
| $5,000 | $25,977 |
| $10,000 | $51,954 |
| $100,000 | $519,536 |
| $1,000,000 | $5,195,364 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1962 spending costs in 1996, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1962 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.97% | $520 |
| Medical care | 6.91% | $971 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 5.01% | $527 |
| Food | 4.85% | $501 |
| Energy | 4.77% | $487 |
| Transportation | 4.62% | $464 |
| Apparel | 3.12% | $284 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1962: housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1962 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $100 |
| 1964 | 31 | 1.3% | $103 |
| 1966 | 32.4 | 2.9% | $107 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $115 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $128 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $138 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $163 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $188 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $216 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $273 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $320 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $344 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $363 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $392 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $433 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $465 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $491 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $520 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1962 to 1996: $100 is worth $520 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1962-to-1996/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1962 to 1996. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1962-to-1996/
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.