U.S. inflation · 1983–2015
$100 in 1983 has the same buying power as
$238
in 2015
| Cumulative price change | 138.0% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.75% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $238 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $138 |
| CPI in 1983 | 99.6 |
| CPI in 2015 | 237.017 |
| Inflation in 1983 | 3.21% |
| Inflation in 2015 | 0.12% |
| $100 in 1983 → 2015 | $238 |
| $100 in 2015 → 1983 | $42.02 |
Between 1983 and 2015, the Consumer Price Index went from 99.6 to 237.017. Cumulatively, prices increased 138.0%, which works out to an average of 2.75% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1983 bought what $0.42 buys in 2015.
| Amount in 1983 | Value in 2015 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.38 |
| $5.00 | $11.90 |
| $10.00 | $23.80 |
| $20.00 | $47.59 |
| $50.00 | $119 |
| $100 | $238 |
| $500 | $1,190 |
| $1,000 | $2,380 |
| $5,000 | $11,898 |
| $10,000 | $23,797 |
| $100,000 | $237,969 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,379,689 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1983 spending costs in 2015, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1983 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.75% | $238 |
| Medical care | 4.77% | $444 |
| Food | 2.89% | $249 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.82% | $243 |
| Housing | 2.76% | $239 |
| Energy | 2.24% | $203 |
| Transportation | 2.20% | $200 |
| Apparel | 0.72% | $126 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1983: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1983 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $100 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $108 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $114 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $124 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $137 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $145 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $153 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $161 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $167 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $178 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $185 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $196 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $208 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $215 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $226 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $234 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $238 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1983 to 2015: $100 is worth $238 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1983-to-2015/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1983 to 2015. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1983-to-2015/
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.