U.S. inflation · 1964–2021
$100 in 1964 has the same buying power as
$874
in 2021
| Cumulative price change | 774.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.88% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $874 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $774 |
| CPI in 1964 | 31 |
| CPI in 2021 | 270.97 |
| Inflation in 1964 | 1.31% |
| Inflation in 2021 | 4.70% |
| $100 in 1964 → 2021 | $874 |
| $100 in 2021 → 1964 | $11.44 |
Between 1964 and 2021, the Consumer Price Index went from 31 to 270.97. Cumulatively, prices increased 774.1%, which works out to an average of 3.88% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1964 bought what $0.11 buys in 2021.
| Amount in 1964 | Value in 2021 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $8.74 |
| $5.00 | $43.70 |
| $10.00 | $87.41 |
| $20.00 | $175 |
| $50.00 | $437 |
| $100 | $874 |
| $500 | $4,370 |
| $1,000 | $8,741 |
| $5,000 | $43,705 |
| $10,000 | $87,410 |
| $100,000 | $874,097 |
| $1,000,000 | $8,740,968 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1964 spending costs in 2021, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1964 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.88% | $874 |
| Medical care | 5.52% | $2,135 |
| Energy | 4.23% | $1,059 |
| Food | 3.89% | $882 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.84% | $858 |
| Transportation | 3.56% | $735 |
| Apparel | 1.66% | $256 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1964: housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1964 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | 31 | 1.3% | $100 |
| 1966 | 32.4 | 2.9% | $105 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $112 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $125 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $135 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $159 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $184 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $210 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $266 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $311 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $335 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $354 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $382 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $422 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $453 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $478 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $506 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $526 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $555 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $580 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $609 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $650 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $695 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $703 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $741 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $764 |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% | $774 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $810 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $835 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $874 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1964 to 2021: $100 is worth $874 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1964-to-2021/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1964 to 2021. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1964-to-2021/
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.