U.S. inflation · 1968–2004
$100 in 1968 has the same buying power as
$543
in 2004
| Cumulative price change | 442.8% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.81% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $543 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $443 |
| CPI in 1968 | 34.8 |
| CPI in 2004 | 188.9 |
| Inflation in 1968 | 4.19% |
| Inflation in 2004 | 2.66% |
| $100 in 1968 → 2004 | $543 |
| $100 in 2004 → 1968 | $18.42 |
Between 1968 and 2004, the Consumer Price Index went from 34.8 to 188.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 442.8%, which works out to an average of 4.81% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1968 bought what $0.18 buys in 2004.
| Amount in 1968 | Value in 2004 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $5.43 |
| $5.00 | $27.14 |
| $10.00 | $54.28 |
| $20.00 | $109 |
| $50.00 | $271 |
| $100 | $543 |
| $500 | $2,714 |
| $1,000 | $5,428 |
| $5,000 | $27,141 |
| $10,000 | $54,282 |
| $100,000 | $542,816 |
| $1,000,000 | $5,428,161 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1968 spending costs in 2004, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1968 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.81% | $543 |
| Medical care | 6.71% | $1,037 |
| Energy | 5.23% | $626 |
| Housing | 5.06% | $592 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.80% | $542 |
| Food | 4.73% | $527 |
| Transportation | 4.43% | $476 |
| Apparel | 2.27% | $224 |
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 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $543 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1968 to 2004: $100 is worth $543 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1968-to-2004/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1968 to 2004. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1968-to-2004/
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.