U.S. inflation · 1969–2008
$100 in 1969 has the same buying power as
$587
in 2008
| Cumulative price change | 486.7% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.64% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $587 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $487 |
| CPI in 1969 | 36.7 |
| CPI in 2008 | 215.303 |
| Inflation in 1969 | 5.46% |
| Inflation in 2008 | 3.84% |
| $100 in 1969 → 2008 | $587 |
| $100 in 2008 → 1969 | $17.05 |
Between 1969 and 2008, the Consumer Price Index went from 36.7 to 215.303. Cumulatively, prices increased 486.7%, which works out to an average of 4.64% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1969 bought what $0.17 buys in 2008.
| Amount in 1969 | Value in 2008 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $5.87 |
| $5.00 | $29.33 |
| $10.00 | $58.67 |
| $20.00 | $117 |
| $50.00 | $293 |
| $100 | $587 |
| $500 | $2,933 |
| $1,000 | $5,867 |
| $5,000 | $29,333 |
| $10,000 | $58,666 |
| $100,000 | $586,657 |
| $1,000,000 | $5,866,567 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1969 spending costs in 2008, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1969 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.64% | $587 |
| Medical care | 6.44% | $1,141 |
| Energy | 5.95% | $954 |
| Housing | 4.86% | $636 |
| Food | 4.60% | $577 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.52% | $561 |
| Transportation | 4.46% | $548 |
| Apparel | 1.91% | $209 |
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 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $110 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $121 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $147 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $165 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $198 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $248 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $271 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $293 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $310 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $338 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $371 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $394 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $415 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $437 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $454 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $483 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $501 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $532 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $565 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $587 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1969 to 2008: $100 is worth $587 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1969-to-2008/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1969 to 2008. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1969-to-2008/
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.