U.S. inflation · 1963–1996
$100 in 1963 has the same buying power as
$513
in 1996
| Cumulative price change | 412.7% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 5.08% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $513 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $413 |
| CPI in 1963 | 30.6 |
| CPI in 1996 | 156.9 |
| Inflation in 1963 | 1.32% |
| Inflation in 1996 | 2.95% |
| $100 in 1963 → 1996 | $513 |
| $100 in 1996 → 1963 | $19.50 |
Between 1963 and 1996, the Consumer Price Index went from 30.6 to 156.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 412.7%, which works out to an average of 5.08% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1963 bought what $0.20 buys in 1996.
| Amount in 1963 | Value in 1996 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $5.13 |
| $5.00 | $25.64 |
| $10.00 | $51.27 |
| $20.00 | $103 |
| $50.00 | $256 |
| $100 | $513 |
| $500 | $2,564 |
| $1,000 | $5,127 |
| $5,000 | $25,637 |
| $10,000 | $51,275 |
| $100,000 | $512,745 |
| $1,000,000 | $5,127,451 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1963 spending costs in 1996, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1963 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 5.08% | $513 |
| Medical care | 7.05% | $947 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 5.13% | $521 |
| Food | 4.95% | $493 |
| Energy | 4.92% | $487 |
| Transportation | 4.75% | $463 |
| Apparel | 3.18% | $281 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1963: housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1963 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 30.6 | 1.3% | $100 |
| 1965 | 31.5 | 1.6% | $103 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $109 |
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $120 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $132 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $145 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $176 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $198 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $237 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $297 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $325 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $352 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $371 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $405 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $445 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $472 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $498 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $513 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1963 to 1996: $100 is worth $513 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1963-to-1996/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1963 to 1996. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1963-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.