U.S. inflation · 1973–1986
$100 in 1973 has the same buying power as
$247
in 1986
| Cumulative price change | 146.8% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 7.20% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $247 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $147 |
| CPI in 1973 | 44.4 |
| CPI in 1986 | 109.6 |
| Inflation in 1973 | 6.22% |
| Inflation in 1986 | 1.86% |
| $100 in 1973 → 1986 | $247 |
| $100 in 1986 → 1973 | $40.51 |
Between 1973 and 1986, the Consumer Price Index went from 44.4 to 109.6. Cumulatively, prices increased 146.8%, which works out to an average of 7.20% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1973 bought what $0.41 buys in 1986.
| Amount in 1973 | Value in 1986 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.47 |
| $5.00 | $12.34 |
| $10.00 | $24.68 |
| $20.00 | $49.37 |
| $50.00 | $123 |
| $100 | $247 |
| $500 | $1,234 |
| $1,000 | $2,468 |
| $5,000 | $12,342 |
| $10,000 | $24,685 |
| $100,000 | $246,847 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,468,468 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1973 spending costs in 1986, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1973 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 7.20% | $247 |
| Medical care | 9.21% | $314 |
| Energy | 8.82% | $300 |
| Housing | 7.91% | $269 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 7.27% | $249 |
| Transportation | 7.25% | $248 |
| Food | 6.48% | $226 |
| Apparel | 3.88% | $164 |
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 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $147 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $164 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $186 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $205 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $217 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $224 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $234 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $242 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $247 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1973 to 1986: $100 is worth $247 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1973-to-1986/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1973 to 1986. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1973-to-1986/
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.