U.S. inflation · 1968–1997
$100 in 1968 has the same buying power as
$461
in 1997
| Cumulative price change | 361.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 5.41% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $461 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $361 |
| CPI in 1968 | 34.8 |
| CPI in 1997 | 160.5 |
| Inflation in 1968 | 4.19% |
| Inflation in 1997 | 2.29% |
| $100 in 1968 → 1997 | $461 |
| $100 in 1997 → 1968 | $21.68 |
Between 1968 and 1997, the Consumer Price Index went from 34.8 to 160.5. Cumulatively, prices increased 361.2%, which works out to an average of 5.41% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1968 bought what $0.22 buys in 1997.
| Amount in 1968 | Value in 1997 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $4.61 |
| $5.00 | $23.06 |
| $10.00 | $46.12 |
| $20.00 | $92.24 |
| $50.00 | $231 |
| $100 | $461 |
| $500 | $2,306 |
| $1,000 | $4,612 |
| $5,000 | $23,060 |
| $10,000 | $46,121 |
| $100,000 | $461,207 |
| $1,000,000 | $4,612,069 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1968 spending costs in 1997, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1968 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 5.41% | $461 |
| Medical care | 7.36% | $785 |
| Housing | 5.63% | $490 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 5.46% | $467 |
| Energy | 5.41% | $461 |
| Food | 5.29% | $446 |
| Transportation | 5.08% | $421 |
| Apparel | 3.17% | $247 |
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 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $315 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $326 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $340 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $356 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $376 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $391 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $403 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $415 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $426 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $438 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $451 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $461 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1968 to 1997: $100 is worth $461 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1968-to-1997/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1968 to 1997. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1968-to-1997/
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.