U.S. inflation · 1977–2020
$100 in 1977 has the same buying power as
$427
in 2020
| Cumulative price change | 327.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.43% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $427 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $327 |
| CPI in 1977 | 60.6 |
| CPI in 2020 | 258.811 |
| Inflation in 1977 | 6.50% |
| Inflation in 2020 | 1.23% |
| $100 in 1977 → 2020 | $427 |
| $100 in 2020 → 1977 | $23.41 |
Between 1977 and 2020, the Consumer Price Index went from 60.6 to 258.811. Cumulatively, prices increased 327.1%, which works out to an average of 3.43% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1977 bought what $0.23 buys in 2020.
| Amount in 1977 | Value in 2020 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $4.27 |
| $5.00 | $21.35 |
| $10.00 | $42.71 |
| $20.00 | $85.42 |
| $50.00 | $214 |
| $100 | $427 |
| $500 | $2,135 |
| $1,000 | $4,271 |
| $5,000 | $21,354 |
| $10,000 | $42,708 |
| $100,000 | $427,081 |
| $1,000,000 | $4,270,809 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1977 spending costs in 2020, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1977 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.43% | $427 |
| Medical care | 5.27% | $910 |
| Housing | 3.68% | $473 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.50% | $439 |
| Food | 3.32% | $408 |
| Energy | 3.27% | $399 |
| Transportation | 2.90% | $341 |
| Apparel | 0.95% | $150 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1977: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1977 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $100 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $120 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $150 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $164 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $178 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $187 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $205 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $225 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $238 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $251 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $265 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $275 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $292 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $304 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $322 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $342 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $354 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $371 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $384 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $391 |
| 2017 | 245.12 | 2.1% | $404 |
| 2019 | 255.657 | 1.8% | $422 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $427 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1977 to 2020: $100 is worth $427 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1977-to-2020/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1977 to 2020. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1977-to-2020/
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.