U.S. inflation · 1973–1977
$100 in 1973 has the same buying power as
$136
in 1977
| Cumulative price change | 36.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 8.09% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $136 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $36.49 |
| CPI in 1973 | 44.4 |
| CPI in 1977 | 60.6 |
| Inflation in 1973 | 6.22% |
| Inflation in 1977 | 6.50% |
| $100 in 1973 → 1977 | $136 |
| $100 in 1977 → 1973 | $73.27 |
Between 1973 and 1977, the Consumer Price Index went from 44.4 to 60.6. Cumulatively, prices increased 36.5%, which works out to an average of 8.09% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1973 bought what $0.73 buys in 1977.
| Amount in 1973 | Value in 1977 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.36 |
| $5.00 | $6.82 |
| $10.00 | $13.65 |
| $20.00 | $27.30 |
| $50.00 | $68.24 |
| $100 | $136 |
| $500 | $682 |
| $1,000 | $1,365 |
| $5,000 | $6,824 |
| $10,000 | $13,649 |
| $100,000 | $136,486 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,364,865 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1973 spending costs in 1977, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1973 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 8.09% | $136 |
| Energy | 13.85% | $168 |
| Medical care | 10.09% | $147 |
| Transportation | 9.39% | $143 |
| Housing | 8.64% | $139 |
| Food | 7.97% | $136 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 7.55% | $134 |
| Apparel | 5.03% | $122 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1973: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1973 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $100 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $111 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $121 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $128 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $136 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1973 to 1977: $100 is worth $136 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1973-to-1977/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1973 to 1977. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1973-to-1977/
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.