U.S. inflation · 1971–2025
$100 in 1971 has the same buying power as
$795
in 2025
| Cumulative price change | 694.9% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.91% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $795 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $695 |
| CPI in 1971 | 40.5 |
| CPI in 2025 | 321.943 |
| Inflation in 1971 | 4.38% |
| Inflation in 2025 | 2.63% |
| $100 in 1971 → 2025 | $795 |
| $100 in 2025 → 1971 | $12.58 |
Between 1971 and 2025, the Consumer Price Index went from 40.5 to 321.943. Cumulatively, prices increased 694.9%, which works out to an average of 3.91% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1971 bought what $0.13 buys in 2025.
| Amount in 1971 | Value in 2025 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $7.95 |
| $5.00 | $39.75 |
| $10.00 | $79.49 |
| $20.00 | $159 |
| $50.00 | $397 |
| $100 | $795 |
| $500 | $3,975 |
| $1,000 | $7,949 |
| $5,000 | $39,746 |
| $10,000 | $79,492 |
| $100,000 | $794,921 |
| $1,000,000 | $7,949,210 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1971 spending costs in 2025, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1971 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.91% | $795 |
| Medical care | 5.28% | $1,607 |
| Energy | 4.46% | $1,054 |
| Housing | 4.18% | $912 |
| Food | 4.02% | $840 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.85% | $768 |
| Transportation | 3.64% | $689 |
| Apparel | 1.43% | $215 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1971: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1971 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $100 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $110 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $133 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $150 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $179 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $224 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $246 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $266 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $280 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $306 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $336 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $357 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $376 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $396 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $411 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $437 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $454 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $482 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $512 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $530 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $555 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $575 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $585 |
| 2017 | 245.12 | 2.1% | $605 |
| 2019 | 255.657 | 1.8% | $631 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $669 |
| 2023 | 304.702 | 4.1% | $752 |
| 2025 | 321.943 | 2.6% | $795 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1971 to 2025: $100 is worth $795 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1971-to-2025/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1971 to 2025. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1971-to-2025/
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.