U.S. inflation · 1963–1998
$100 in 1963 has the same buying power as
$533
in 1998
| Cumulative price change | 432.7% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.90% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $533 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $433 |
| CPI in 1963 | 30.6 |
| CPI in 1998 | 163 |
| Inflation in 1963 | 1.32% |
| Inflation in 1998 | 1.56% |
| $100 in 1963 → 1998 | $533 |
| $100 in 1998 → 1963 | $18.77 |
Between 1963 and 1998, the Consumer Price Index went from 30.6 to 163. Cumulatively, prices increased 432.7%, which works out to an average of 4.90% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1963 bought what $0.19 buys in 1998.
| Amount in 1963 | Value in 1998 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $5.33 |
| $5.00 | $26.63 |
| $10.00 | $53.27 |
| $20.00 | $107 |
| $50.00 | $266 |
| $100 | $533 |
| $500 | $2,663 |
| $1,000 | $5,327 |
| $5,000 | $26,634 |
| $10,000 | $53,268 |
| $100,000 | $532,680 |
| $1,000,000 | $5,326,797 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1963 spending costs in 1998, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1963 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.90% | $533 |
| Medical care | 6.81% | $1,005 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.97% | $545 |
| Food | 4.80% | $517 |
| Transportation | 4.45% | $458 |
| Energy | 4.43% | $455 |
| Apparel | 3.02% | $284 |
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 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $525 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $533 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1963 to 1998: $100 is worth $533 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1963-to-1998/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1963 to 1998. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1963-to-1998/
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.