U.S. inflation · 1967–1998
$100 in 1967 has the same buying power as
$488
in 1998
| Cumulative price change | 388.0% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 5.25% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $488 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $388 |
| CPI in 1967 | 33.4 |
| CPI in 1998 | 163 |
| Inflation in 1967 | 3.09% |
| Inflation in 1998 | 1.56% |
| $100 in 1967 → 1998 | $488 |
| $100 in 1998 → 1967 | $20.49 |
Between 1967 and 1998, the Consumer Price Index went from 33.4 to 163. Cumulatively, prices increased 388.0%, which works out to an average of 5.25% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1967 bought what $0.20 buys in 1998.
| Amount in 1967 | Value in 1998 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $4.88 |
| $5.00 | $24.40 |
| $10.00 | $48.80 |
| $20.00 | $97.60 |
| $50.00 | $244 |
| $100 | $488 |
| $500 | $2,440 |
| $1,000 | $4,880 |
| $5,000 | $24,401 |
| $10,000 | $48,802 |
| $100,000 | $488,024 |
| $1,000,000 | $4,880,240 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1967 spending costs in 1998, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1967 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 5.25% | $488 |
| Medical care | 7.18% | $859 |
| Housing | 5.47% | $521 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 5.33% | $500 |
| Food | 5.13% | $471 |
| Energy | 4.84% | $432 |
| Transportation | 4.78% | $425 |
| Apparel | 3.14% | $261 |
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 |
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $110 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $121 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $133 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $161 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $181 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $217 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $272 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $298 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $322 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $340 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $371 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $408 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $433 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $456 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $481 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $488 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1967 to 1998: $100 is worth $488 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1967-to-1998/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1967 to 1998. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1967-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.