U.S. inflation · 1973–2002
$100 in 1973 has the same buying power as
$405
in 2002
| Cumulative price change | 305.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.94% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $405 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $305 |
| CPI in 1973 | 44.4 |
| CPI in 2002 | 179.9 |
| Inflation in 1973 | 6.22% |
| Inflation in 2002 | 1.58% |
| $100 in 1973 → 2002 | $405 |
| $100 in 2002 → 1973 | $24.68 |
Between 1973 and 2002, the Consumer Price Index went from 44.4 to 179.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 305.2%, which works out to an average of 4.94% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1973 bought what $0.25 buys in 2002.
| Amount in 1973 | Value in 2002 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $4.05 |
| $5.00 | $20.26 |
| $10.00 | $40.52 |
| $20.00 | $81.04 |
| $50.00 | $203 |
| $100 | $405 |
| $500 | $2,026 |
| $1,000 | $4,052 |
| $5,000 | $20,259 |
| $10,000 | $40,518 |
| $100,000 | $405,180 |
| $1,000,000 | $4,051,802 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1973 spending costs in 2002, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1973 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.94% | $405 |
| Medical care | 7.13% | $736 |
| Housing | 5.22% | $438 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 5.05% | $418 |
| Energy | 5.02% | $414 |
| Transportation | 4.63% | $371 |
| Food | 4.57% | $366 |
| Apparel | 2.27% | $192 |
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 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $256 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $266 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $279 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $294 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $307 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $316 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $325 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $334 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $343 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $353 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $361 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $367 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $375 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $388 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $399 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $405 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1973 to 2002: $100 is worth $405 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1973-to-2002/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1973 to 2002. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1973-to-2002/
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.