U.S. inflation · 1984–2012
$100 in 1984 has the same buying power as
$221
in 2012
| Cumulative price change | 121.0% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.87% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $221 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $121 |
| CPI in 1984 | 103.9 |
| CPI in 2012 | 229.594 |
| Inflation in 1984 | 4.32% |
| Inflation in 2012 | 2.07% |
| $100 in 1984 → 2012 | $221 |
| $100 in 2012 → 1984 | $45.25 |
Between 1984 and 2012, the Consumer Price Index went from 103.9 to 229.594. Cumulatively, prices increased 121.0%, which works out to an average of 2.87% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1984 bought what $0.45 buys in 2012.
| Amount in 1984 | Value in 2012 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.21 |
| $5.00 | $11.05 |
| $10.00 | $22.10 |
| $20.00 | $44.20 |
| $50.00 | $110 |
| $100 | $221 |
| $500 | $1,105 |
| $1,000 | $2,210 |
| $5,000 | $11,049 |
| $10,000 | $22,098 |
| $100,000 | $220,976 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,209,759 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1984 spending costs in 2012, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1984 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.87% | $221 |
| Medical care | 4.97% | $389 |
| Energy | 3.24% | $244 |
| Food | 2.96% | $227 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.85% | $220 |
| Housing | 2.77% | $215 |
| Transportation | 2.68% | $210 |
| Apparel | 0.76% | $124 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1984: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1984 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $100 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $104 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $105 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $109 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $114 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $119 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $126 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $131 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $135 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $139 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $143 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $147 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $151 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $154 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $157 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $160 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $166 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $170 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $173 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $177 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $182 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $188 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $194 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $200 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $207 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $206 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $210 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $216 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $221 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1984 to 2012: $100 is worth $221 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1984-to-2012/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1984 to 2012. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1984-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.