U.S. inflation · 1979–1996
$100 in 1979 has the same buying power as
$216
in 1996
| Cumulative price change | 116.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.64% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $216 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $116 |
| CPI in 1979 | 72.6 |
| CPI in 1996 | 156.9 |
| Inflation in 1979 | 11.35% |
| Inflation in 1996 | 2.95% |
| $100 in 1979 → 1996 | $216 |
| $100 in 1996 → 1979 | $46.27 |
Between 1979 and 1996, the Consumer Price Index went from 72.6 to 156.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 116.1%, which works out to an average of 4.64% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1979 bought what $0.46 buys in 1996.
| Amount in 1979 | Value in 1996 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.16 |
| $5.00 | $10.81 |
| $10.00 | $21.61 |
| $20.00 | $43.22 |
| $50.00 | $108 |
| $100 | $216 |
| $500 | $1,081 |
| $1,000 | $2,161 |
| $5,000 | $10,806 |
| $10,000 | $21,612 |
| $100,000 | $216,116 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,161,157 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1979 spending costs in 1996, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1979 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.64% | $216 |
| Medical care | 7.43% | $338 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 5.03% | $230 |
| Housing | 4.69% | $218 |
| Transportation | 4.25% | $203 |
| Food | 3.91% | $192 |
| Energy | 3.08% | $168 |
| Apparel | 2.62% | $155 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1979: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1979 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $100 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $113 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $125 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $133 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $137 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $143 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $148 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $151 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $156 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $163 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $171 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $180 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $188 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $193 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $199 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $204 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $210 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $216 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1979 to 1996: $100 is worth $216 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1979-to-1996/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1979 to 1996. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1979-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.