U.S. inflation · 1967–1996
$100 in 1967 has the same buying power as
$470
in 1996
| Cumulative price change | 369.8% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 5.48% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $470 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $370 |
| CPI in 1967 | 33.4 |
| CPI in 1996 | 156.9 |
| Inflation in 1967 | 3.09% |
| Inflation in 1996 | 2.95% |
| $100 in 1967 → 1996 | $470 |
| $100 in 1996 → 1967 | $21.29 |
Between 1967 and 1996, the Consumer Price Index went from 33.4 to 156.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 369.8%, which works out to an average of 5.48% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1967 bought what $0.21 buys in 1996.
| Amount in 1967 | Value in 1996 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $4.70 |
| $5.00 | $23.49 |
| $10.00 | $46.98 |
| $20.00 | $93.95 |
| $50.00 | $235 |
| $100 | $470 |
| $500 | $2,349 |
| $1,000 | $4,698 |
| $5,000 | $23,488 |
| $10,000 | $46,976 |
| $100,000 | $469,760 |
| $1,000,000 | $4,697,605 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1967 spending costs in 1996, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1967 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 5.48% | $470 |
| Medical care | 7.48% | $809 |
| Housing | 5.68% | $496 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 5.54% | $477 |
| Energy | 5.42% | $463 |
| Food | 5.32% | $450 |
| Transportation | 5.15% | $429 |
| Apparel | 3.33% | $258 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1967: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1967 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $100 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $104 |
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $110 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $116 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $121 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $125 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $133 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $148 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $161 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $170 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $181 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $195 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $217 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $247 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $272 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $289 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $298 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $311 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $322 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $328 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $340 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $354 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $371 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $391 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $408 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $420 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $433 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $444 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $456 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $470 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1967 to 1996: $100 is worth $470 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1967-to-1996/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1967 to 1996. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1967-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.