U.S. inflation · 1966–1996
$100 in 1966 has the same buying power as
$484
in 1996
| Cumulative price change | 384.3% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 5.40% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $484 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $384 |
| CPI in 1966 | 32.4 |
| CPI in 1996 | 156.9 |
| Inflation in 1966 | 2.86% |
| Inflation in 1996 | 2.95% |
| $100 in 1966 → 1996 | $484 |
| $100 in 1996 → 1966 | $20.65 |
Between 1966 and 1996, the Consumer Price Index went from 32.4 to 156.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 384.3%, which works out to an average of 5.40% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1966 bought what $0.21 buys in 1996.
| Amount in 1966 | Value in 1996 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $4.84 |
| $5.00 | $24.21 |
| $10.00 | $48.43 |
| $20.00 | $96.85 |
| $50.00 | $242 |
| $100 | $484 |
| $500 | $2,421 |
| $1,000 | $4,843 |
| $5,000 | $24,213 |
| $10,000 | $48,426 |
| $100,000 | $484,259 |
| $1,000,000 | $4,842,593 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1966 spending costs in 1996, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1966 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 5.40% | $484 |
| Medical care | 7.47% | $868 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 5.47% | $494 |
| Energy | 5.31% | $473 |
| Food | 5.17% | $454 |
| Transportation | 5.08% | $443 |
| Apparel | 3.35% | $269 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1966: housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1966 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1966 | 32.4 | 2.9% | $100 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $103 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $107 |
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $113 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $120 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $125 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $129 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $137 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $152 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $166 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $176 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $187 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $201 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $224 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $254 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $281 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $298 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $307 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $321 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $332 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $338 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $351 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $365 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $383 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $403 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $420 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $433 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $446 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $457 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $470 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $484 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1966 to 1996: $100 is worth $484 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1966-to-1996/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1966 to 1996. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1966-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.