U.S. inflation · 1979–2012
$100 in 1979 has the same buying power as
$316
in 2012
| Cumulative price change | 216.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.55% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $316 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $216 |
| CPI in 1979 | 72.6 |
| CPI in 2012 | 229.594 |
| Inflation in 1979 | 11.35% |
| Inflation in 2012 | 2.07% |
| $100 in 1979 → 2012 | $316 |
| $100 in 2012 → 1979 | $31.62 |
Between 1979 and 2012, the Consumer Price Index went from 72.6 to 229.594. Cumulatively, prices increased 216.2%, which works out to an average of 3.55% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1979 bought what $0.32 buys in 2012.
| Amount in 1979 | Value in 2012 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $3.16 |
| $5.00 | $15.81 |
| $10.00 | $31.62 |
| $20.00 | $63.25 |
| $50.00 | $158 |
| $100 | $316 |
| $500 | $1,581 |
| $1,000 | $3,162 |
| $5,000 | $15,812 |
| $10,000 | $31,625 |
| $100,000 | $316,245 |
| $1,000,000 | $3,162,452 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1979 spending costs in 2012, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1979 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.55% | $316 |
| Medical care | 5.66% | $615 |
| Energy | 4.08% | $375 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.58% | $320 |
| Housing | 3.57% | $318 |
| Transportation | 3.47% | $308 |
| Food | 3.31% | $293 |
| Apparel | 1.21% | $149 |
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 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $125 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $137 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $148 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $156 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $171 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $188 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $199 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $210 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $221 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $229 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $244 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $253 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $269 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $286 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $296 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $310 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $316 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1979 to 2012: $100 is worth $316 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1979-to-2012/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1979 to 2012. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1979-to-2012/
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.