U.S. inflation · 1972–1976
$100 in 1972 has the same buying power as
$136
in 1976
| Cumulative price change | 36.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 8.01% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $136 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $36.12 |
| CPI in 1972 | 41.8 |
| CPI in 1976 | 56.9 |
| Inflation in 1972 | 3.21% |
| Inflation in 1976 | 5.76% |
| $100 in 1972 → 1976 | $136 |
| $100 in 1976 → 1972 | $73.46 |
Between 1972 and 1976, the Consumer Price Index went from 41.8 to 56.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 36.1%, which works out to an average of 8.01% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1972 bought what $0.73 buys in 1976.
| Amount in 1972 | Value in 1976 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.36 |
| $5.00 | $6.81 |
| $10.00 | $13.61 |
| $20.00 | $27.22 |
| $50.00 | $68.06 |
| $100 | $136 |
| $500 | $681 |
| $1,000 | $1,361 |
| $5,000 | $6,806 |
| $10,000 | $13,612 |
| $100,000 | $136,124 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,361,244 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1972 spending costs in 1976, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1972 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 8.01% | $136 |
| Energy | 13.48% | $166 |
| Food | 9.98% | $146 |
| Medical care | 8.66% | $139 |
| Transportation | 8.40% | $138 |
| Housing | 8.10% | $137 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 6.87% | $130 |
| Apparel | 4.82% | $121 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1972: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1972 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $100 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $106 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $118 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $129 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $136 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1972 to 1976: $100 is worth $136 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1972-to-1976/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1972 to 1976. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1972-to-1976/
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.