Inflation Calculator
U.S. Inflation Rate, $500,000 in 1850 to 2018
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index, prices in 2018 are 3,136.40% higher than prices in 1850. The dollar experienced an average inflation rate of 2.28% per year during this period.
In other words, $500,000 in 1850 is equivalent in purchasing power to $16,181,987.18 in 2018, a difference of $15,681,987.18 over 168 years.
The 1850 inflation rate was 1.30%. The current inflation rate (2017 to 2018) is now 2.28%1. If this number holds, $500,000 today will be equivalent to $511,384.86 next year. The current inflation rate page gives more detail on the latest official inflation rates.
Contents
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| Cumulative price change | 3,136.40% |
| Average inflation rate | 2.28% |
| Converted amount ($500,000 base) | $16,181,987.18 |
| Price difference ($500,000 base) | $15,681,987.18 |
| CPI in 1850 | 7.800 |
| CPI in 2018 | 252.439 |
| Inflation in 1850 | 1.30% |
| Inflation in 2018 | 2.28% |
Buying power of $500,000 since 1850
This chart shows calculations of buying power equivalence over time for $500,000 in 1850 (price index tracking began in 1635).
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, each of these USD amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1850 | $500,000.00 | 1.30% |
| 1851 | $493,589.74 | -1.28% |
| 1852 | $493,589.74 | 0.00% |
| 1853 | $493,589.74 | 0.00% |
| 1854 | $538,461.54 | 9.09% |
| 1855 | $557,692.31 | 3.57% |
| 1856 | $544,871.79 | -2.30% |
| 1857 | $557,692.31 | 2.35% |
| 1858 | $525,641.03 | -5.75% |
| 1859 | $532,051.28 | 1.22% |
| 1860 | $532,051.28 | 0.00% |
| 1861 | $564,102.56 | 6.02% |
| 1862 | $647,435.90 | 14.77% |
| 1863 | $807,692.31 | 24.75% |
| 1864 | $1,006,410.26 | 24.60% |
| 1865 | $1,044,871.79 | 3.82% |
| 1866 | $1,019,230.77 | -2.45% |
| 1867 | $948,717.95 | -6.92% |
| 1868 | $910,256.41 | -4.05% |
| 1869 | $871,794.87 | -4.23% |
| 1870 | $839,743.59 | -3.68% |
| 1871 | $782,051.28 | -6.87% |
| 1872 | $782,051.28 | 0.00% |
| 1873 | $769,230.77 | -1.64% |
| 1874 | $730,769.23 | -5.00% |
| 1875 | $705,128.21 | -3.51% |
| 1876 | $685,897.44 | -2.73% |
| 1877 | $673,076.92 | -1.87% |
| 1878 | $641,025.64 | -4.76% |
| 1879 | $641,025.64 | 0.00% |
| 1880 | $653,846.15 | 2.00% |
| 1881 | $653,846.15 | 0.00% |
| 1882 | $653,846.15 | 0.00% |
| 1883 | $647,435.90 | -0.98% |
| 1884 | $628,205.13 | -2.97% |
| 1885 | $621,794.87 | -1.02% |
| 1886 | $602,564.10 | -3.09% |
| 1887 | $608,974.36 | 1.06% |
| 1888 | $608,974.36 | 0.00% |
| 1889 | $589,743.59 | -3.16% |
| 1890 | $583,333.33 | -1.09% |
| 1891 | $583,333.33 | 0.00% |
| 1892 | $583,333.33 | 0.00% |
| 1893 | $576,923.08 | -1.10% |
| 1894 | $551,282.05 | -4.44% |
| 1895 | $538,461.54 | -2.33% |
| 1896 | $538,461.54 | 0.00% |
| 1897 | $532,051.28 | -1.19% |
| 1898 | $532,051.28 | 0.00% |
| 1899 | $532,051.28 | 0.00% |
| 1900 | $538,461.54 | 1.20% |
| 1901 | $544,871.79 | 1.19% |
| 1902 | $551,282.05 | 1.18% |
| 1903 | $564,102.56 | 2.33% |
| 1904 | $570,512.82 | 1.14% |
| 1905 | $564,102.56 | -1.12% |
| 1906 | $576,923.08 | 2.27% |
| 1907 | $602,564.10 | 4.44% |
| 1908 | $589,743.59 | -2.13% |
| 1909 | $583,333.33 | -1.09% |
| 1910 | $608,974.36 | 4.40% |
| 1911 | $608,974.36 | 0.00% |
| 1912 | $621,794.87 | 2.11% |
| 1913 | $634,615.38 | 2.06% |
| 1914 | $641,025.64 | 1.01% |
| 1915 | $647,435.90 | 1.00% |
| 1916 | $698,717.95 | 7.92% |
| 1917 | $820,512.82 | 17.43% |
| 1918 | $967,948.72 | 17.97% |
| 1919 | $1,108,974.36 | 14.57% |
| 1920 | $1,282,051.28 | 15.61% |
| 1921 | $1,147,435.90 | -10.50% |
| 1922 | $1,076,923.08 | -6.15% |
| 1923 | $1,096,153.85 | 1.79% |
| 1924 | $1,096,153.85 | 0.00% |
| 1925 | $1,121,794.87 | 2.34% |
| 1926 | $1,134,615.38 | 1.14% |
| 1927 | $1,115,384.62 | -1.69% |
| 1928 | $1,096,153.85 | -1.72% |
| 1929 | $1,096,153.85 | 0.00% |
| 1930 | $1,070,512.82 | -2.34% |
| 1931 | $974,358.97 | -8.98% |
| 1932 | $878,205.13 | -9.87% |
| 1933 | $833,333.33 | -5.11% |
| 1934 | $858,974.36 | 3.08% |
| 1935 | $878,205.13 | 2.24% |
| 1936 | $891,025.64 | 1.46% |
| 1937 | $923,076.92 | 3.60% |
| 1938 | $903,846.15 | -2.08% |
| 1939 | $891,025.64 | -1.42% |
| 1940 | $897,435.90 | 0.72% |
| 1941 | $942,307.69 | 5.00% |
| 1942 | $1,044,871.79 | 10.88% |
| 1943 | $1,108,974.36 | 6.13% |
| 1944 | $1,128,205.13 | 1.73% |
| 1945 | $1,153,846.15 | 2.27% |
| 1946 | $1,250,000.00 | 8.33% |
| 1947 | $1,429,487.18 | 14.36% |
| 1948 | $1,544,871.79 | 8.07% |
| 1949 | $1,525,641.03 | -1.24% |
| 1950 | $1,544,871.79 | 1.26% |
| 1951 | $1,666,666.67 | 7.88% |
| 1952 | $1,698,717.95 | 1.92% |
| 1953 | $1,711,538.46 | 0.75% |
| 1954 | $1,724,358.97 | 0.75% |
| 1955 | $1,717,948.72 | -0.37% |
| 1956 | $1,743,589.74 | 1.49% |
| 1957 | $1,801,282.05 | 3.31% |
| 1958 | $1,852,564.10 | 2.85% |
| 1959 | $1,865,384.62 | 0.69% |
| 1960 | $1,897,435.90 | 1.72% |
| 1961 | $1,916,666.67 | 1.01% |
| 1962 | $1,935,897.44 | 1.00% |
| 1963 | $1,961,538.46 | 1.32% |
| 1964 | $1,987,179.49 | 1.31% |
| 1965 | $2,019,230.77 | 1.61% |
| 1966 | $2,076,923.08 | 2.86% |
| 1967 | $2,141,025.64 | 3.09% |
| 1968 | $2,230,769.23 | 4.19% |
| 1969 | $2,352,564.10 | 5.46% |
| 1970 | $2,487,179.49 | 5.72% |
| 1971 | $2,596,153.85 | 4.38% |
| 1972 | $2,679,487.18 | 3.21% |
| 1973 | $2,846,153.85 | 6.22% |
| 1974 | $3,160,256.41 | 11.04% |
| 1975 | $3,448,717.95 | 9.13% |
| 1976 | $3,647,435.90 | 5.76% |
| 1977 | $3,884,615.38 | 6.50% |
| 1978 | $4,179,487.18 | 7.59% |
| 1979 | $4,653,846.15 | 11.35% |
| 1980 | $5,282,051.28 | 13.50% |
| 1981 | $5,826,923.08 | 10.32% |
| 1982 | $6,185,897.44 | 6.16% |
| 1983 | $6,384,615.38 | 3.21% |
| 1984 | $6,660,256.41 | 4.32% |
| 1985 | $6,897,435.90 | 3.56% |
| 1986 | $7,025,641.03 | 1.86% |
| 1987 | $7,282,051.28 | 3.65% |
| 1988 | $7,583,333.33 | 4.14% |
| 1989 | $7,948,717.95 | 4.82% |
| 1990 | $8,378,205.13 | 5.40% |
| 1991 | $8,730,769.23 | 4.21% |
| 1992 | $8,993,589.74 | 3.01% |
| 1993 | $9,262,820.51 | 2.99% |
| 1994 | $9,500,000.00 | 2.56% |
| 1995 | $9,769,230.77 | 2.83% |
| 1996 | $10,057,692.31 | 2.95% |
| 1997 | $10,288,461.54 | 2.29% |
| 1998 | $10,448,717.95 | 1.56% |
| 1999 | $10,679,487.18 | 2.21% |
| 2000 | $11,038,461.54 | 3.36% |
| 2001 | $11,352,564.10 | 2.85% |
| 2002 | $11,532,051.28 | 1.58% |
| 2003 | $11,794,871.79 | 2.28% |
| 2004 | $12,108,974.36 | 2.66% |
| 2005 | $12,519,230.77 | 3.39% |
| 2006 | $12,923,076.92 | 3.23% |
| 2007 | $13,291,153.85 | 2.85% |
| 2008 | $13,801,474.36 | 3.84% |
| 2009 | $13,752,371.79 | -0.36% |
| 2010 | $13,977,948.72 | 1.64% |
| 2011 | $14,419,166.67 | 3.16% |
| 2012 | $14,717,564.10 | 2.07% |
| 2013 | $14,933,141.03 | 1.46% |
| 2014 | $15,175,384.62 | 1.62% |
| 2015 | $15,193,397.44 | 0.12% |
| 2016 | $15,385,064.10 | 1.26% |
| 2017 | $15,712,820.51 | 2.13% |
| 2018 | $16,181,987.18 | 2.99%* |
Inflation by Country
Inflation can also vary widely by country. For comparison, in the UK £500,000.00 in 1850 would be equivalent to £65,373,325.00 in 2018, an absolute change of £64,873,325.00 and a cumulative change of 12,974.67%.
Compare these numbers to the US's overall absolute change of $15,681,987.18 and total percent change of 3,136.40%.
Inflation by Spending Category
CPI is the weighted combination of many categories of spending that are tracked by the government. This chart shows the average rate of inflation for select CPI categories between 1850 and 2018.
Compare these values to the overall average of 2.28% per year:
| Category | Avg Inflation (%) | Total Inflation (%) | $500,000 in 1850 → 2018 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food | 3.13 | 17,719.39 | 89,096,944.81 |
| Shelter | 4.10 | 85,503.66 | 428,018,301.49 |
| Energy | 3.88 | 60,271.08 | 301,855,414.32 |
| Apparel | 2.05 | 2,941.28 | 15,206,384.64 |
| New vehicles | 1.05 | 481.97 | 2,909,842.91 |
| Used cars and trucks | 0.61 | 179.67 | 1,398,329.20 |
| Transportation services | 3.35 | 25,056.15 | 125,780,738.46 |
| Medical care services | 5.11 | 430,767.77 | 2,154,338,829.74 |
| Medical care commodities | 4.29 | 115,258.29 | 576,791,431.99 |
It's important to note that not all categories may be tracked since 1850. This table and visualization use the earliest available data for each category.
Inflation rates for specific categories
Fresh fruits · Seattle, Washington · Wireless telephone services · MoreHow to Calculate Inflation Rate for $500,000 since 1850
This inflation calculator uses the following inflation rate formula:
CPI in 2018CPI in 1850
×
1850 USD value
=
2018 USD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The U.S. CPI was 7.8 in the year 1850 and 252.439 in 2018:
252.4397.8
×
$500,000
=
$16,181,987.18
$500,000 in 1850 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $16,181,987.18 in 2018.
To get the total inflation rate for the 168 years between 1850 and 2018, we use the following formula:
CPI in 2018 - CPI in 1850CPI in 1850
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (168 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
252.439 - 7.87.8
×
100
=
3,136%
News headlines from 1850
Politics and news often influence economic performance. Here's what was happening at the time:
- The first National Women's Rights Convention takes place in Wocester, Massachusetts.
- The California Exchange is opened.
- Britain blockades Piraeus, a Greek port.
- The HMS Investigator sets sail from Woolwich, England, becoming the first ship to explore the Northwest Passage.
Data Source & Citation
Raw data for these calculations comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI), established in 1913. Inflation data from 1665 to 1912 is sourced from a historical study conducted by political science professor Robert Sahr at Oregon State University.
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “$500,000 in 1850 → 2018 | Inflation Calculator.” U.S. Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 13 Nov. 2018, https://www.officialdata.org/1850-dollars?amount=500000.
in2013dollars.com is a reference website maintained by the Official Data Foundation.