What happened to prices after 1980
1980 was the peak of the Great Inflation: prices rose 12.5% that year, after 13.3% in 1979. The Federal Reserve under Paul Volcker pushed short-term rates close to 20%, at the cost of two recessions, and by 1982 inflation was down to 3.8%.
That makes 1980 a turning point rather than a typical year. Since then prices have risen about 3.8 times, an average of 2.98% a year. The highest rate since was 8.9% in 1981; the next highest came four decades later, 7.0% in 2021.
What amounts from 1980 are worth today
| In 1980 | In 2025 | 2025 amount in 1980 |
|---|---|---|
| $1 | $3.76 | $0.27 |
| $5 | $18.78 | $1.33 |
| $10 | $37.56 | $2.66 |
| $20 | $75.11 | $5.33 |
| $50 | $187.78 | $13.31 |
| $100 | $375.55 | $26.63 |
| $500 | $1,877.75 | $133.14 |
| $1,000 | $3,755.50 | $266.28 |
| $5,000 | $18,777.52 | $1,331.38 |
| $10,000 | $37,555.04 | $2,662.76 |
Read across: $1,000 in 1980 buys what $3,756 did in 2025, and $1,000 in 2025 would have bought what $266.28 did in 1980.
Inflation by decade since 1980
| Decade | Average a year | Prices over the decade |
|---|---|---|
| 1980s (1981–1989) | 4.30% | +46.1% |
| 1990s | 2.93% | +33.5% |
| 2000s | 2.52% | +28.3% |
| 2010s | 1.76% | +19.0% |
| 2020s (2020–2025) | 3.94% | +26.1% |
Every year since 1980: CPI, inflation and the cost of $100 of 1980 goods
| Year | CPI (Dec.) | Inflation | Cost of $100 of 1980 goods |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1980 | 86.3 | — | $100.00 |
| 1981 | 94.0 | +8.9% | $108.92 |
| 1982 | 97.6 | +3.8% | $113.09 |
| 1983 | 101.3 | +3.8% | $117.38 |
| 1984 | 105.3 | +3.9% | $122.02 |
| 1985 | 109.3 | +3.8% | $126.65 |
| 1986 | 110.5 | +1.1% | $128.04 |
| 1987 | 115.4 | +4.4% | $133.72 |
| 1988 | 120.5 | +4.4% | $139.63 |
| 1989 | 126.1 | +4.6% | $146.12 |
| 1990 | 133.8 | +6.1% | $155.04 |
| 1991 | 137.9 | +3.1% | $159.79 |
| 1992 | 141.9 | +2.9% | $164.43 |
| 1993 | 145.8 | +2.7% | $168.95 |
| 1994 | 149.7 | +2.7% | $173.46 |
| 1995 | 153.5 | +2.5% | $177.87 |
| 1996 | 158.6 | +3.3% | $183.78 |
| 1997 | 161.3 | +1.7% | $186.91 |
| 1998 | 163.9 | +1.6% | $189.92 |
| 1999 | 168.3 | +2.7% | $195.02 |
| 2000 | 174.0 | +3.4% | $201.62 |
| 2001 | 176.7 | +1.6% | $204.75 |
| 2002 | 180.9 | +2.4% | $209.62 |
| 2003 | 184.3 | +1.9% | $213.56 |
| 2004 | 190.3 | +3.3% | $220.51 |
| 2005 | 196.8 | +3.4% | $228.04 |
| 2006 | 201.8 | +2.5% | $233.84 |
| 2007 | 210.0 | +4.1% | $243.34 |
| 2008 | 210.2 | +0.1% | $243.57 |
| 2009 | 215.9 | +2.7% | $250.17 |
| 2010 | 219.2 | +1.5% | $254.00 |
| 2011 | 225.7 | +3.0% | $261.53 |
| 2012 | 229.6 | +1.7% | $266.05 |
| 2013 | 233.0 | +1.5% | $269.99 |
| 2014 | 234.8 | +0.8% | $272.07 |
| 2015 | 236.5 | +0.7% | $274.04 |
| 2016 | 241.4 | +2.1% | $279.72 |
| 2017 | 246.5 | +2.1% | $285.63 |
| 2018 | 251.2 | +1.9% | $291.08 |
| 2019 | 257.0 | +2.3% | $297.80 |
| 2020 | 260.5 | +1.4% | $301.85 |
| 2021 | 278.8 | +7.0% | $323.06 |
| 2022 | 296.8 | +6.5% | $343.92 |
| 2023 | 306.7 | +3.3% | $355.39 |
| 2024 | 315.6 | +2.9% | $365.70 |
| 2025 | 324.1 | +2.7% | $375.55 |
How this is calculated
We divide the consumer price index for December 2025 (324.1) by the index for December 1980 (86.3), which gives 3.7555, and multiply. Each year’s inflation runs December to December. December figures follow prices to the end of each year, so they can differ slightly from tables that use yearly averages. The index measures an average urban household’s spending; your own costs can rise faster or slower.
For what the stock market did over the same years, see S&P 500 returns since 1980. Every figure here comes from the same data as the inflation calculator. The method is on the methodology page.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), U.S. city average, all items, December values.