U.S. inflation · 1974–1996
$100 in 1974 has the same buying power as
$318
in 1996
| Cumulative price change | 218.3% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 5.40% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $318 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $218 |
| CPI in 1974 | 49.3 |
| CPI in 1996 | 156.9 |
| Inflation in 1974 | 11.04% |
| Inflation in 1996 | 2.95% |
| $100 in 1974 → 1996 | $318 |
| $100 in 1996 → 1974 | $31.42 |
Between 1974 and 1996, the Consumer Price Index went from 49.3 to 156.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 218.3%, which works out to an average of 5.40% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1974 bought what $0.31 buys in 1996.
| Amount in 1974 | Value in 1996 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $3.18 |
| $5.00 | $15.91 |
| $10.00 | $31.83 |
| $20.00 | $63.65 |
| $50.00 | $159 |
| $100 | $318 |
| $500 | $1,591 |
| $1,000 | $3,183 |
| $5,000 | $15,913 |
| $10,000 | $31,826 |
| $100,000 | $318,256 |
| $1,000,000 | $3,182,556 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1974 spending costs in 1996, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1974 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 5.40% | $318 |
| Medical care | 7.95% | $538 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 5.65% | $335 |
| Housing | 5.63% | $334 |
| Transportation | 5.31% | $312 |
| Energy | 4.94% | $289 |
| Food | 4.76% | $278 |
| Apparel | 2.95% | $190 |
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 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $309 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $318 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1974 to 1996: $100 is worth $318 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1974-to-1996/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1974 to 1996. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1974-to-1996/
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.