U.S. inflation · 1974–1994
$100 in 1974 has the same buying power as
$301
in 1994
| Cumulative price change | 200.6% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 5.66% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $301 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $201 |
| CPI in 1974 | 49.3 |
| CPI in 1994 | 148.2 |
| Inflation in 1974 | 11.04% |
| Inflation in 1994 | 2.56% |
| $100 in 1974 → 1994 | $301 |
| $100 in 1994 → 1974 | $33.27 |
Between 1974 and 1994, the Consumer Price Index went from 49.3 to 148.2. Cumulatively, prices increased 200.6%, which works out to an average of 5.66% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1974 bought what $0.33 buys in 1994.
| Amount in 1974 | Value in 1994 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $3.01 |
| $5.00 | $15.03 |
| $10.00 | $30.06 |
| $20.00 | $60.12 |
| $50.00 | $150 |
| $100 | $301 |
| $500 | $1,503 |
| $1,000 | $3,006 |
| $5,000 | $15,030 |
| $10,000 | $30,061 |
| $100,000 | $300,609 |
| $1,000,000 | $3,006,085 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1974 spending costs in 1994, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1974 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 5.66% | $301 |
| Medical care | 8.35% | $498 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 5.93% | $317 |
| Housing | 5.92% | $316 |
| Transportation | 5.53% | $293 |
| Energy | 5.18% | $275 |
| Food | 4.93% | $262 |
| Apparel | 3.32% | $192 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1974: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1974 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $100 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $109 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $115 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $123 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $132 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $147 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $167 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $184 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $196 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $202 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $211 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $218 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $222 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $230 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $240 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $252 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $265 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $276 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $285 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $293 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $301 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1974 to 1994: $100 is worth $301 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1974-to-1994/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1974 to 1994. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1974-to-1994/
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.