U.S. inflation · 1975–2018
$100 in 1975 has the same buying power as
$467
in 2018
| Cumulative price change | 366.7% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.65% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $467 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $367 |
| CPI in 1975 | 53.8 |
| CPI in 2018 | 251.107 |
| Inflation in 1975 | 9.13% |
| Inflation in 2018 | 2.44% |
| $100 in 1975 → 2018 | $467 |
| $100 in 2018 → 1975 | $21.43 |
Between 1975 and 2018, the Consumer Price Index went from 53.8 to 251.107. Cumulatively, prices increased 366.7%, which works out to an average of 3.65% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1975 bought what $0.21 buys in 2018.
| Amount in 1975 | Value in 2018 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $4.67 |
| $5.00 | $23.34 |
| $10.00 | $46.67 |
| $20.00 | $93.35 |
| $50.00 | $233 |
| $100 | $467 |
| $500 | $2,334 |
| $1,000 | $4,667 |
| $5,000 | $23,337 |
| $10,000 | $46,674 |
| $100,000 | $466,742 |
| $1,000,000 | $4,667,416 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1975 spending costs in 2018, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1975 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.65% | $467 |
| Medical care | 5.55% | $1,020 |
| Energy | 3.92% | $522 |
| Housing | 3.86% | $510 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.70% | $478 |
| Food | 3.42% | $424 |
| Transportation | 3.40% | $420 |
| Apparel | 1.29% | $173 |
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 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $113 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $135 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $169 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $185 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $200 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $211 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $230 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $253 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $269 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $283 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $298 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $310 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $329 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $342 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $363 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $385 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $399 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $418 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $433 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $441 |
| 2017 | 245.12 | 2.1% | $456 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $467 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1975 to 2018: $100 is worth $467 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1975-to-2018/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1975 to 2018. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1975-to-2018/
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.