U.S. inflation · 1975–1983
$100 in 1975 has the same buying power as
$185
in 1983
| Cumulative price change | 85.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 8.00% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $185 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $85.13 |
| CPI in 1975 | 53.8 |
| CPI in 1983 | 99.6 |
| Inflation in 1975 | 9.13% |
| Inflation in 1983 | 3.21% |
| $100 in 1975 → 1983 | $185 |
| $100 in 1983 → 1975 | $54.02 |
Between 1975 and 1983, the Consumer Price Index went from 53.8 to 99.6. Cumulatively, prices increased 85.1%, which works out to an average of 8.00% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1975 bought what $0.54 buys in 1983.
| Amount in 1975 | Value in 1983 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.85 |
| $5.00 | $9.26 |
| $10.00 | $18.51 |
| $20.00 | $37.03 |
| $50.00 | $92.57 |
| $100 | $185 |
| $500 | $926 |
| $1,000 | $1,851 |
| $5,000 | $9,257 |
| $10,000 | $18,513 |
| $100,000 | $185,130 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,851,301 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1975 spending costs in 1983, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1975 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 8.00% | $185 |
| Energy | 11.41% | $237 |
| Medical care | 9.83% | $212 |
| Transportation | 8.93% | $198 |
| Housing | 8.79% | $196 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 7.98% | $185 |
| Food | 6.56% | $166 |
| Apparel | 4.13% | $138 |
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 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $153 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $169 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $179 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $185 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1975 to 1983: $100 is worth $185 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1975-to-1983/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1975 to 1983. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1975-to-1983/
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.