U.S. inflation · 1968–1999
$100 in 1968 has the same buying power as
$479
in 1999
| Cumulative price change | 378.7% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 5.18% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $479 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $379 |
| CPI in 1968 | 34.8 |
| CPI in 1999 | 166.6 |
| Inflation in 1968 | 4.19% |
| Inflation in 1999 | 2.21% |
| $100 in 1968 → 1999 | $479 |
| $100 in 1999 → 1968 | $20.89 |
Between 1968 and 1999, the Consumer Price Index went from 34.8 to 166.6. Cumulatively, prices increased 378.7%, which works out to an average of 5.18% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1968 bought what $0.21 buys in 1999.
| Amount in 1968 | Value in 1999 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $4.79 |
| $5.00 | $23.94 |
| $10.00 | $47.87 |
| $20.00 | $95.75 |
| $50.00 | $239 |
| $100 | $479 |
| $500 | $2,394 |
| $1,000 | $4,787 |
| $5,000 | $23,937 |
| $10,000 | $47,874 |
| $100,000 | $478,736 |
| $1,000,000 | $4,787,356 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1968 spending costs in 1999, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1968 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 5.18% | $479 |
| Medical care | 7.10% | $838 |
| Housing | 5.41% | $512 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 5.24% | $488 |
| Food | 5.08% | $465 |
| Energy | 4.90% | $440 |
| Transportation | 4.75% | $421 |
| Apparel | 2.93% | $245 |
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 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $111 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $120 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $142 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $164 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $187 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $237 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $277 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $299 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $315 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $340 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $376 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $403 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $426 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $451 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $468 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $479 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1968 to 1999: $100 is worth $479 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1968-to-1999/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1968 to 1999. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1968-to-1999/
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.