U.S. inflation · 1968–1985
$100 in 1968 has the same buying power as
$309
in 1985
| Cumulative price change | 209.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 6.87% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $309 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $209 |
| CPI in 1968 | 34.8 |
| CPI in 1985 | 107.6 |
| Inflation in 1968 | 4.19% |
| Inflation in 1985 | 3.56% |
| $100 in 1968 → 1985 | $309 |
| $100 in 1985 → 1968 | $32.34 |
Between 1968 and 1985, the Consumer Price Index went from 34.8 to 107.6. Cumulatively, prices increased 209.2%, which works out to an average of 6.87% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1968 bought what $0.32 buys in 1985.
| Amount in 1968 | Value in 1985 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $3.09 |
| $5.00 | $15.46 |
| $10.00 | $30.92 |
| $20.00 | $61.84 |
| $50.00 | $155 |
| $100 | $309 |
| $500 | $1,546 |
| $1,000 | $3,092 |
| $5,000 | $15,460 |
| $10,000 | $30,920 |
| $100,000 | $309,195 |
| $1,000,000 | $3,091,954 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1968 spending costs in 1985, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1968 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 6.87% | $309 |
| Energy | 8.81% | $420 |
| Medical care | 8.16% | $380 |
| Housing | 7.40% | $337 |
| Transportation | 6.89% | $310 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 6.69% | $301 |
| Food | 6.66% | $299 |
| Apparel | 4.02% | $196 |
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 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $128 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $142 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $155 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $164 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $174 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $187 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $209 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $237 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $261 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $277 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $286 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $299 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $309 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1968 to 1985: $100 is worth $309 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1968-to-1985/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1968 to 1985. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1968-to-1985/
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.