U.S. inflation · 1969–1987
$100 in 1969 has the same buying power as
$310
in 1987
| Cumulative price change | 209.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 6.48% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $310 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $210 |
| CPI in 1969 | 36.7 |
| CPI in 1987 | 113.6 |
| Inflation in 1969 | 5.46% |
| Inflation in 1987 | 3.65% |
| $100 in 1969 → 1987 | $310 |
| $100 in 1987 → 1969 | $32.31 |
Between 1969 and 1987, the Consumer Price Index went from 36.7 to 113.6. Cumulatively, prices increased 209.5%, which works out to an average of 6.48% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1969 bought what $0.32 buys in 1987.
| Amount in 1969 | Value in 1987 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $3.10 |
| $5.00 | $15.48 |
| $10.00 | $30.95 |
| $20.00 | $61.91 |
| $50.00 | $155 |
| $100 | $310 |
| $500 | $1,548 |
| $1,000 | $3,095 |
| $5,000 | $15,477 |
| $10,000 | $30,954 |
| $100,000 | $309,537 |
| $1,000,000 | $3,095,368 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1969 spending costs in 1987, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1969 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 6.48% | $310 |
| Medical care | 8.12% | $408 |
| Energy | 7.33% | $357 |
| Housing | 6.96% | $336 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 6.45% | $308 |
| Food | 6.41% | $306 |
| Transportation | 6.20% | $295 |
| Apparel | 3.77% | $195 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1969: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1969 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $100 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $106 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $110 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $114 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $121 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $134 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $147 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $155 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $165 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $178 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $198 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $225 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $248 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $263 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $271 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $283 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $293 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $299 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $310 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1969 to 1987: $100 is worth $310 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1969-to-1987/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1969 to 1987. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1969-to-1987/
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.