U.S. inflation · 1978–2020
$100 in 1978 has the same buying power as
$397
in 2020
| Cumulative price change | 296.9% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.34% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $397 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $297 |
| CPI in 1978 | 65.2 |
| CPI in 2020 | 258.811 |
| Inflation in 1978 | 7.59% |
| Inflation in 2020 | 1.23% |
| $100 in 1978 → 2020 | $397 |
| $100 in 2020 → 1978 | $25.19 |
Between 1978 and 2020, the Consumer Price Index went from 65.2 to 258.811. Cumulatively, prices increased 296.9%, which works out to an average of 3.34% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1978 bought what $0.25 buys in 2020.
| Amount in 1978 | Value in 2020 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $3.97 |
| $5.00 | $19.85 |
| $10.00 | $39.69 |
| $20.00 | $79.39 |
| $50.00 | $198 |
| $100 | $397 |
| $500 | $1,985 |
| $1,000 | $3,969 |
| $5,000 | $19,847 |
| $10,000 | $39,695 |
| $100,000 | $396,949 |
| $1,000,000 | $3,969,494 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1978 spending costs in 2020, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1978 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.34% | $397 |
| Medical care | 5.20% | $840 |
| Housing | 3.57% | $436 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.41% | $409 |
| Energy | 3.20% | $375 |
| Food | 3.17% | $371 |
| Transportation | 2.86% | $326 |
| Apparel | 0.89% | $145 |
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 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $126 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $148 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $159 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $168 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $181 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $200 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $215 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $227 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $241 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $250 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $264 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $276 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $290 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $309 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $330 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $334 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $352 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $363 |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% | $368 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $385 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $397 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1978 to 2020: $100 is worth $397 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1978-to-2020/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1978 to 2020. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1978-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.