U.S. inflation · 1975–1979
$100 in 1975 has the same buying power as
$135
in 1979
| Cumulative price change | 34.9% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 7.78% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $135 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $34.94 |
| CPI in 1975 | 53.8 |
| CPI in 1979 | 72.6 |
| Inflation in 1975 | 9.13% |
| Inflation in 1979 | 11.35% |
| $100 in 1975 → 1979 | $135 |
| $100 in 1979 → 1975 | $74.10 |
Between 1975 and 1979, the Consumer Price Index went from 53.8 to 72.6. Cumulatively, prices increased 34.9%, which works out to an average of 7.78% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1975 bought what $0.74 buys in 1979.
| Amount in 1975 | Value in 1979 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.35 |
| $5.00 | $6.75 |
| $10.00 | $13.49 |
| $20.00 | $26.99 |
| $50.00 | $67.47 |
| $100 | $135 |
| $500 | $675 |
| $1,000 | $1,349 |
| $5,000 | $6,747 |
| $10,000 | $13,494 |
| $100,000 | $134,944 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,349,442 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1975 spending costs in 1979, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1975 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 7.78% | $135 |
| Energy | 11.77% | $156 |
| Medical care | 9.18% | $142 |
| Transportation | 8.92% | $141 |
| Housing | 8.44% | $138 |
| Food | 7.51% | $134 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 7.47% | $133 |
| Apparel | 4.03% | $117 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1975: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1975 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $100 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $106 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $113 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $121 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $135 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1975 to 1979: $100 is worth $135 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1975-to-1979/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1975 to 1979. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1975-to-1979/
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.