U.S. inflation · 1972–2021
$100 in 1972 has the same buying power as
$648
in 2021
| Cumulative price change | 548.3% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.89% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $648 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $548 |
| CPI in 1972 | 41.8 |
| CPI in 2021 | 270.97 |
| Inflation in 1972 | 3.21% |
| Inflation in 2021 | 4.70% |
| $100 in 1972 → 2021 | $648 |
| $100 in 2021 → 1972 | $15.43 |
Between 1972 and 2021, the Consumer Price Index went from 41.8 to 270.97. Cumulatively, prices increased 548.3%, which works out to an average of 3.89% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1972 bought what $0.15 buys in 2021.
| Amount in 1972 | Value in 2021 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $6.48 |
| $5.00 | $32.41 |
| $10.00 | $64.83 |
| $20.00 | $130 |
| $50.00 | $324 |
| $100 | $648 |
| $500 | $3,241 |
| $1,000 | $6,483 |
| $5,000 | $32,413 |
| $10,000 | $64,825 |
| $100,000 | $648,254 |
| $1,000,000 | $6,482,536 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1972 spending costs in 2021, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1972 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.89% | $648 |
| Medical care | 5.55% | $1,408 |
| Energy | 4.53% | $876 |
| Housing | 4.09% | $712 |
| Food | 3.93% | $660 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.83% | $630 |
| Transportation | 3.65% | $578 |
| Apparel | 1.36% | $194 |
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 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $118 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $136 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $156 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $197 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $231 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $249 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $262 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $283 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $313 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $336 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $355 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $375 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $390 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $412 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $430 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $452 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $482 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $515 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $522 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $549 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $566 |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% | $574 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $601 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $619 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $648 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1972 to 2021: $100 is worth $648 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1972-to-2021/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1972 to 2021. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1972-to-2021/
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.