U.S. inflation · 1977–2021
$100 in 1977 has the same buying power as
$447
in 2021
| Cumulative price change | 347.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.46% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $447 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $347 |
| CPI in 1977 | 60.6 |
| CPI in 2021 | 270.97 |
| Inflation in 1977 | 6.50% |
| Inflation in 2021 | 4.70% |
| $100 in 1977 → 2021 | $447 |
| $100 in 2021 → 1977 | $22.36 |
Between 1977 and 2021, the Consumer Price Index went from 60.6 to 270.97. Cumulatively, prices increased 347.1%, which works out to an average of 3.46% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1977 bought what $0.22 buys in 2021.
| Amount in 1977 | Value in 2021 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $4.47 |
| $5.00 | $22.36 |
| $10.00 | $44.71 |
| $20.00 | $89.43 |
| $50.00 | $224 |
| $100 | $447 |
| $500 | $2,236 |
| $1,000 | $4,471 |
| $5,000 | $22,357 |
| $10,000 | $44,715 |
| $100,000 | $447,145 |
| $1,000,000 | $4,471,452 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1977 spending costs in 2021, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1977 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.46% | $447 |
| Medical care | 5.18% | $922 |
| Housing | 3.67% | $489 |
| Energy | 3.64% | $482 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.50% | $455 |
| Food | 3.34% | $424 |
| Transportation | 3.15% | $391 |
| Apparel | 0.99% | $154 |
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 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $447 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1977 to 2021: $100 is worth $447 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1977-to-2021/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1977 to 2021. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1977-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.