U.S. inflation · 1968–2002
$100 in 1968 has the same buying power as
$517
in 2002
| Cumulative price change | 417.0% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.95% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $517 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $417 |
| CPI in 1968 | 34.8 |
| CPI in 2002 | 179.9 |
| Inflation in 1968 | 4.19% |
| Inflation in 2002 | 1.58% |
| $100 in 1968 → 2002 | $517 |
| $100 in 2002 → 1968 | $19.34 |
Between 1968 and 2002, the Consumer Price Index went from 34.8 to 179.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 417.0%, which works out to an average of 4.95% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1968 bought what $0.19 buys in 2002.
| Amount in 1968 | Value in 2002 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $5.17 |
| $5.00 | $25.85 |
| $10.00 | $51.70 |
| $20.00 | $103 |
| $50.00 | $258 |
| $100 | $517 |
| $500 | $2,585 |
| $1,000 | $5,170 |
| $5,000 | $25,848 |
| $10,000 | $51,695 |
| $100,000 | $516,954 |
| $1,000,000 | $5,169,540 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1968 spending costs in 2002, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1968 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.95% | $517 |
| Medical care | 6.86% | $955 |
| Housing | 5.22% | $563 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 5.00% | $525 |
| Energy | 4.87% | $503 |
| Food | 4.84% | $499 |
| Transportation | 4.49% | $446 |
| Apparel | 2.49% | $231 |
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 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $495 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $517 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1968 to 2002: $100 is worth $517 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1968-to-2002/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1968 to 2002. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1968-to-2002/
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.