U.S. inflation · 1968–1972
$100 in 1968 has the same buying power as
$120
in 1972
| Cumulative price change | 20.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.69% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $120 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $20.11 |
| CPI in 1968 | 34.8 |
| CPI in 1972 | 41.8 |
| Inflation in 1968 | 4.19% |
| Inflation in 1972 | 3.21% |
| $100 in 1968 → 1972 | $120 |
| $100 in 1972 → 1968 | $83.25 |
Between 1968 and 1972, the Consumer Price Index went from 34.8 to 41.8. Cumulatively, prices increased 20.1%, which works out to an average of 4.69% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1968 bought what $0.83 buys in 1972.
| Amount in 1968 | Value in 1972 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.20 |
| $5.00 | $6.01 |
| $10.00 | $12.01 |
| $20.00 | $24.02 |
| $50.00 | $60.06 |
| $100 | $120 |
| $500 | $601 |
| $1,000 | $1,201 |
| $5,000 | $6,006 |
| $10,000 | $12,011 |
| $100,000 | $120,115 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,201,149 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1968 spending costs in 1972, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1968 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.69% | $120 |
| Medical care | 5.68% | $125 |
| Housing | 5.34% | $123 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.93% | $121 |
| Food | 4.50% | $119 |
| Transportation | 3.85% | $116 |
| Apparel | 3.78% | $116 |
| Energy | 2.96% | $112 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1968: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1968 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $100 |
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $105 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $111 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $116 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $120 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1968 to 1972: $100 is worth $120 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1968-to-1972/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1968 to 1972. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1968-to-1972/
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.