U.S. inflation · 1974–2021
$100 in 1974 has the same buying power as
$550
in 2021
| Cumulative price change | 449.6% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.69% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $550 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $450 |
| CPI in 1974 | 49.3 |
| CPI in 2021 | 270.97 |
| Inflation in 1974 | 11.04% |
| Inflation in 2021 | 4.70% |
| $100 in 1974 → 2021 | $550 |
| $100 in 2021 → 1974 | $18.19 |
Between 1974 and 2021, the Consumer Price Index went from 49.3 to 270.97. Cumulatively, prices increased 449.6%, which works out to an average of 3.69% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1974 bought what $0.18 buys in 2021.
| Amount in 1974 | Value in 2021 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $5.50 |
| $5.00 | $27.48 |
| $10.00 | $54.96 |
| $20.00 | $110 |
| $50.00 | $275 |
| $100 | $550 |
| $500 | $2,748 |
| $1,000 | $5,496 |
| $5,000 | $27,482 |
| $10,000 | $54,963 |
| $100,000 | $549,635 |
| $1,000,000 | $5,496,349 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1974 spending costs in 2021, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1974 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.69% | $550 |
| Medical care | 5.50% | $1,239 |
| Energy | 3.98% | $626 |
| Housing | 3.93% | $613 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.74% | $561 |
| Food | 3.50% | $504 |
| Transportation | 3.50% | $504 |
| Apparel | 1.19% | $174 |
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 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $115 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $132 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $167 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $196 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $211 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $222 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $240 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $265 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $285 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $301 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $318 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $331 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $349 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $365 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $383 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $409 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $437 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $442 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $466 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $480 |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% | $487 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $509 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $525 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $550 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1974 to 2021: $100 is worth $550 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1974-to-2021/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1974 to 2021. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1974-to-2021/
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.