U.S. inflation · 1979–2021
$100 in 1979 has the same buying power as
$373
in 2021
| Cumulative price change | 273.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.19% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $373 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $273 |
| CPI in 1979 | 72.6 |
| CPI in 2021 | 270.97 |
| Inflation in 1979 | 11.35% |
| Inflation in 2021 | 4.70% |
| $100 in 1979 → 2021 | $373 |
| $100 in 2021 → 1979 | $26.79 |
Between 1979 and 2021, the Consumer Price Index went from 72.6 to 270.97. Cumulatively, prices increased 273.2%, which works out to an average of 3.19% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1979 bought what $0.27 buys in 2021.
| Amount in 1979 | Value in 2021 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $3.73 |
| $5.00 | $18.66 |
| $10.00 | $37.32 |
| $20.00 | $74.65 |
| $50.00 | $187 |
| $100 | $373 |
| $500 | $1,866 |
| $1,000 | $3,732 |
| $5,000 | $18,662 |
| $10,000 | $37,324 |
| $100,000 | $373,237 |
| $1,000,000 | $3,732,369 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1979 spending costs in 2021, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1979 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.19% | $373 |
| Medical care | 5.01% | $778 |
| Housing | 3.36% | $400 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.27% | $386 |
| Energy | 3.12% | $363 |
| Food | 3.01% | $348 |
| Transportation | 2.86% | $327 |
| Apparel | 0.85% | $143 |
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 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $321 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $326 |
| 2017 | 245.12 | 2.1% | $338 |
| 2019 | 255.657 | 1.8% | $352 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $373 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1979 to 2021: $100 is worth $373 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1979-to-2021/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1979 to 2021. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1979-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.