U.S. inflation · 1978–1996
$100 in 1978 has the same buying power as
$241
in 1996
| Cumulative price change | 140.6% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 5.00% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $241 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $141 |
| CPI in 1978 | 65.2 |
| CPI in 1996 | 156.9 |
| Inflation in 1978 | 7.59% |
| Inflation in 1996 | 2.95% |
| $100 in 1978 → 1996 | $241 |
| $100 in 1996 → 1978 | $41.56 |
Between 1978 and 1996, the Consumer Price Index went from 65.2 to 156.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 140.6%, which works out to an average of 5.00% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1978 bought what $0.42 buys in 1996.
| Amount in 1978 | Value in 1996 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.41 |
| $5.00 | $12.03 |
| $10.00 | $24.06 |
| $20.00 | $48.13 |
| $50.00 | $120 |
| $100 | $241 |
| $500 | $1,203 |
| $1,000 | $2,406 |
| $5,000 | $12,032 |
| $10,000 | $24,064 |
| $100,000 | $240,644 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,406,442 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1978 spending costs in 1996, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1978 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 5.00% | $241 |
| Medical care | 7.53% | $369 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 5.29% | $253 |
| Housing | 5.10% | $245 |
| Transportation | 4.78% | $232 |
| Food | 4.29% | $213 |
| Energy | 4.20% | $210 |
| Apparel | 2.71% | $162 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1978: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1978 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $100 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $111 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $126 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $139 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $148 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $153 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $159 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $165 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $168 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $174 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $181 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $190 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $200 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $209 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $215 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $222 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $227 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $234 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $241 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1978 to 1996: $100 is worth $241 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1978-to-1996/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1978 to 1996. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1978-to-1996/
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.