U.S. inflation · 1966–2021
$100 in 1966 has the same buying power as
$836
in 2021
| Cumulative price change | 736.3% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.94% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $836 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $736 |
| CPI in 1966 | 32.4 |
| CPI in 2021 | 270.97 |
| Inflation in 1966 | 2.86% |
| Inflation in 2021 | 4.70% |
| $100 in 1966 → 2021 | $836 |
| $100 in 2021 → 1966 | $11.96 |
Between 1966 and 2021, the Consumer Price Index went from 32.4 to 270.97. Cumulatively, prices increased 736.3%, which works out to an average of 3.94% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1966 bought what $0.12 buys in 2021.
| Amount in 1966 | Value in 2021 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $8.36 |
| $5.00 | $41.82 |
| $10.00 | $83.63 |
| $20.00 | $167 |
| $50.00 | $418 |
| $100 | $836 |
| $500 | $4,182 |
| $1,000 | $8,363 |
| $5,000 | $41,816 |
| $10,000 | $83,633 |
| $100,000 | $836,327 |
| $1,000,000 | $8,363,272 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1966 spending costs in 2021, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1966 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.94% | $836 |
| Medical care | 5.60% | $1,997 |
| Energy | 4.32% | $1,023 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.92% | $828 |
| Food | 3.90% | $822 |
| Transportation | 3.64% | $714 |
| Apparel | 1.66% | $247 |
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 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $107 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $120 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $129 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $152 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $176 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $201 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $254 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $298 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $321 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $338 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $365 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $403 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $433 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $457 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $484 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $503 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $531 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $555 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $583 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $622 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $665 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $673 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $709 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $731 |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% | $741 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $775 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $799 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $836 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1966 to 2021: $100 is worth $836 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1966-to-2021/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1966 to 2021. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1966-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.