U.S. inflation · 1982–2012
$100 in 1982 has the same buying power as
$238
in 2012
| Cumulative price change | 137.9% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.93% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $238 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $138 |
| CPI in 1982 | 96.5 |
| CPI in 2012 | 229.594 |
| Inflation in 1982 | 6.16% |
| Inflation in 2012 | 2.07% |
| $100 in 1982 → 2012 | $238 |
| $100 in 2012 → 1982 | $42.03 |
Between 1982 and 2012, the Consumer Price Index went from 96.5 to 229.594. Cumulatively, prices increased 137.9%, which works out to an average of 2.93% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1982 bought what $0.42 buys in 2012.
| Amount in 1982 | Value in 2012 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.38 |
| $5.00 | $11.90 |
| $10.00 | $23.79 |
| $20.00 | $47.58 |
| $50.00 | $119 |
| $100 | $238 |
| $500 | $1,190 |
| $1,000 | $2,379 |
| $5,000 | $11,896 |
| $10,000 | $23,792 |
| $100,000 | $237,921 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,379,212 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1982 spending costs in 2012, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1982 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.93% | $238 |
| Medical care | 5.13% | $449 |
| Energy | 3.07% | $248 |
| Food | 2.96% | $240 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.96% | $240 |
| Housing | 2.81% | $230 |
| Transportation | 2.73% | $224 |
| Apparel | 0.86% | $129 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1982: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1982 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $100 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $103 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $108 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $112 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $114 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $118 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $123 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $128 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $135 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $141 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $145 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $150 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $154 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $158 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $163 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $166 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $169 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $173 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $178 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $184 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $186 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $191 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $196 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $202 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $209 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $215 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $223 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $222 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $226 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $233 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $238 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1982 to 2012: $100 is worth $238 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1982-to-2012/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1982 to 2012. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1982-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.