U.S. inflation · 1983–2021
$100 in 1983 has the same buying power as
$272
in 2021
| Cumulative price change | 172.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.67% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $272 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $172 |
| CPI in 1983 | 99.6 |
| CPI in 2021 | 270.97 |
| Inflation in 1983 | 3.21% |
| Inflation in 2021 | 4.70% |
| $100 in 1983 → 2021 | $272 |
| $100 in 2021 → 1983 | $36.76 |
Between 1983 and 2021, the Consumer Price Index went from 99.6 to 270.97. Cumulatively, prices increased 172.1%, which works out to an average of 2.67% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1983 bought what $0.37 buys in 2021.
| Amount in 1983 | Value in 2021 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.72 |
| $5.00 | $13.60 |
| $10.00 | $27.21 |
| $20.00 | $54.41 |
| $50.00 | $136 |
| $100 | $272 |
| $500 | $1,360 |
| $1,000 | $2,721 |
| $5,000 | $13,603 |
| $10,000 | $27,206 |
| $100,000 | $272,058 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,720,582 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1983 spending costs in 2021, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1983 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.67% | $272 |
| Medical care | 4.45% | $522 |
| Housing | 2.77% | $282 |
| Food | 2.74% | $279 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.73% | $278 |
| Energy | 2.31% | $239 |
| Transportation | 2.24% | $232 |
| Apparel | 0.50% | $121 |
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 |
| 2017 | 245.12 | 2.1% | $246 |
| 2019 | 255.657 | 1.8% | $257 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $272 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1983 to 2021: $100 is worth $272 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1983-to-2021/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1983 to 2021. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1983-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.