Prices are now 8.0x higher than in 1972
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, something that cost $100 in 1972 costs about $801.39 today. The inflation rate in 1972 was 3.2%, and total inflation from 1972 to August 2026 was 701%.
The federal minimum wage was $1.60 an hour at the end of 1972, or about $12.82 an hour in today's dollars.
The S&P 500 index started 1972 at 103.30. With dividends reinvested, $100 invested in the S&P 500 in 1972 would have grown to about $31,723.37 by 2026, before adjusting for inflation.
Some costs rose much faster than others. Compared with overall inflation, tobacco rose the most since 1972 (359% more than inflation), and clothing rose the least (73% less).
| All prices, on average | $801.39 |
| Food | $827.47 |
| Groceries | $749.78 |
| Restaurant meals | $961.81 |
| Eggs | $492.57 |
| Milk | $499.13 |
| Bread | $999.67 |
| Meat | $777.40 |
| Fresh fruit | $1,061.98 |
Cost of living in 1972 by category
The Bureau of Labor Statistics began publishing average prices for individual items in 1980. For 1972, these comparisons use the consumer price index for each spending category: each row shows what something that cost $100 in 1972 costs in August 2026, and how that compares with overall inflation of 701%.
Food & drink
| Category | $100 in 1972 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Food | $100 in 1972 today$827.47 | Compared with inflation3% more than inflation |
| Groceries | $100 in 1972 today$749.78 | Compared with inflation6% less than inflation |
| Restaurant meals | $100 in 1972 today$961.81 | Compared with inflation20% more than inflation |
| Eggs | $100 in 1972 today$492.57 | Compared with inflation39% less than inflation |
| Milk | $100 in 1972 today$499.13 | Compared with inflation38% less than inflation |
| Bread | $100 in 1972 today$999.67 | Compared with inflation25% more than inflation |
| Meat | $100 in 1972 today$777.40 | Compared with inflation3% less than inflation |
| Fresh fruit | $100 in 1972 today$1,061.98 | Compared with inflation33% more than inflation |
| Sugar and sweets | $100 in 1972 today$1,006.20 | Compared with inflation26% more than inflation |
| Coffee | $100 in 1972 today$927.25 | Compared with inflation16% more than inflation |
| Alcohol | $100 in 1972 today$541.83 | Compared with inflation32% less than inflation |
| Tobacco | $100 in 1972 today$3,675.45 | Compared with inflation359% more than inflation |
Housing & energy
| Category | $100 in 1972 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Rent | $100 in 1972 today$884.76 | Compared with inflation10% more than inflation |
| Electricity | $100 in 1972 today$857.49 | Compared with inflation7% more than inflation |
| Natural gas | $100 in 1972 today$1,215.09 | Compared with inflation52% more than inflation |
| Heating oil | $100 in 1972 today$2,726.09 | Compared with inflation240% more than inflation |
Transportation
| Category | $100 in 1972 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Gasoline | $100 in 1972 today$1,177.92 | Compared with inflation47% more than inflation |
| New cars | $100 in 1972 today$320.01 | Compared with inflation60% less than inflation |
| Used cars | $100 in 1972 today$544.69 | Compared with inflation32% less than inflation |
| Public transportation | $100 in 1972 today$736.62 | Compared with inflation8% less than inflation |
| Airfare | $100 in 1972 today$973.14 | Compared with inflation21% more than inflation |
Other costs
| Category | $100 in 1972 today | Compared with inflation |
|---|---|---|
| Clothing | $100 in 1972 today$218.06 | Compared with inflation73% less than inflation |
| Shoes | $100 in 1972 today$249.26 | Compared with inflation69% less than inflation |
| Medical care | $100 in 1972 today$1,587.59 | Compared with inflation98% more than inflation |
| Doctor visits | $100 in 1972 today$1,151.72 | Compared with inflation44% more than inflation |
| Prescription drugs | $100 in 1972 today$1,183.58 | Compared with inflation48% more than inflation |
| Personal care | $100 in 1972 today$654.60 | Compared with inflation18% less than inflation |
| Postage | $100 in 1972 today$983.15 | Compared with inflation23% more than inflation |
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1972 worth today?
$1 in 1972 has about the same buying power as $8.01 today, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.
What was the inflation rate in 1972?
The U.S. inflation rate in 1972 was 3.2%, measured as the change in the consumer price index from 1971 to 1972.
What was the minimum wage in 1972?
The federal minimum wage at the end of 1972 was $1.60 an hour, or about $12.82 an hour in today's dollars.
Which costs rose the most since 1972?
Of the spending categories tracked since 1972, tobacco rose the most relative to overall inflation: something that cost $100 in 1972 costs about $3675.45 today. Clothing rose the least, to about $218.06.
Where these numbers come from
Category comparisons use the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index for each category, from the 1972 annual average to August 2026. Overall inflation uses the same consumer price index as our 1972 inflation calculator. The federal minimum wage is from the U.S. Department of Labor, via the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. S&P 500 values are from Robert Shiller's historical stock market data.
Prices in other years
- 1914
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- 2023
- 2024
- 2025
| All prices, on average | $801.39 |
| Food | $827.47 |
| Groceries | $749.78 |
| Restaurant meals | $961.81 |
| Eggs | $492.57 |
| Milk | $499.13 |
| Bread | $999.67 |
| Meat | $777.40 |
| Fresh fruit | $1,061.98 |