U.S. inflation · 1976–2021
$100 in 1976 has the same buying power as
$476
in 2021
| Cumulative price change | 376.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.53% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $476 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $376 |
| CPI in 1976 | 56.9 |
| CPI in 2021 | 270.97 |
| Inflation in 1976 | 5.76% |
| Inflation in 2021 | 4.70% |
| $100 in 1976 → 2021 | $476 |
| $100 in 2021 → 1976 | $21.00 |
Between 1976 and 2021, the Consumer Price Index went from 56.9 to 270.97. Cumulatively, prices increased 376.2%, which works out to an average of 3.53% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1976 bought what $0.21 buys in 2021.
| Amount in 1976 | Value in 2021 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $4.76 |
| $5.00 | $23.81 |
| $10.00 | $47.62 |
| $20.00 | $95.24 |
| $50.00 | $238 |
| $100 | $476 |
| $500 | $2,381 |
| $1,000 | $4,762 |
| $5,000 | $23,811 |
| $10,000 | $47,622 |
| $100,000 | $476,221 |
| $1,000,000 | $4,762,214 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1976 spending costs in 2021, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1976 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.53% | $476 |
| Medical care | 5.27% | $1,010 |
| Energy | 3.77% | $528 |
| Housing | 3.74% | $522 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.56% | $483 |
| Food | 3.40% | $451 |
| Transportation | 3.23% | $419 |
| Apparel | 1.06% | $161 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1976: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1976 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $100 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $115 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $145 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $170 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $183 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $193 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $208 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $230 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $247 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $260 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $276 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $286 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $303 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $316 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $332 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $354 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $378 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $383 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $404 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $416 |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% | $422 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $441 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $455 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $476 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1976 to 2021: $100 is worth $476 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1976-to-2021/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1976 to 2021. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1976-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.