Atlanta, Georgia prices: $500 in 1985 $1,096.68 in 2018

Inflation in Georgia

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Prices in Atlanta, 1985-2018 ($500)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Atlanta, Georgia were 119.34% higher in 2018 versus 1985 (a $596.68 difference in value).

Between 1985 and 2018: Atlanta experienced an average inflation rate of 2.41% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $500 in Atlanta in the year 1985 would cost $1,096.68 in 2018 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.60% during this same period, inflation in Atlanta was lower.

In the year 1985: Pricing changed by 4.53%, which is above the average yearly change in Atlanta during the 1985-2018 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1985 (3.55%), inflation in Atlanta was higher.

Price Inflation in Atlanta, Georgia since 1917

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1998 (37.33%), 1919 (21.47%), and 1947 (16.95%).

View price changes for other categories
Wireless telephone services · Wine at home · Medical care · Jewelry · More

Buying power of $500.00 since 1985

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Atlanta, over time, for $500 beginning in 1985. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1985$500.004.53%
1986$515.643.13%
1987$522.201.27%
1988$522.200.00% **
1989$522.200.00% **
1990$522.200.00% **
1991$522.200.00% **
1992$522.200.00% **
1993$522.200.00% **
1994$522.200.00% **
1995$522.200.00% **
1996$522.200.00% **
1997$539.803.37%
1998$741.2837.33%
1999$757.152.14%
2000$783.873.53%
2001$810.253.37%
2002$819.681.16%
2003$831.421.43%
2004$841.881.26%
2005$868.223.13%
2006$890.612.58%
2007$918.723.16%
2008$951.013.52%
2009$924.10-2.83%
2010$935.741.26%
2011$960.902.69%
2012$978.521.83%
2013$994.071.59%
2014$1,016.272.23%
2015$1,019.620.33%
2016$1,036.401.65%
2017$1,070.183.26%
2018$1,096.682.48%
2019$1,119.462.08%
2020$1,133.941.29%
2021$1,200.685.89%
2022$1,329.1910.70%
2023$1,397.075.11%
2024$1,416.821.41%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.


Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Atlanta, Georgia:

Year191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI15.20015.45018.76721.90019.39217.51717.54217.33317.68318.10817.90017.30817.18316.69215.15013.58312.57513.06713.47513.74214.09213.80013.65813.61714.26715.82516.95817.27517.88318.97522.19223.75023.79223.96726.25026.98327.28327.25027.07527.46728.20828.96729.13329.60029.75830.00030.23330.71731.11732.05033.08334.37536.36738.45040.26741.50844.01748.79253.35855.93359.22563.65870.15879.87589.87595.81799.758103.967108.675112.075113.500113.500113.500113.500113.500113.500113.500113.500113.500113.500117.325161.117164.567170.375176.108178.158180.708182.983188.708193.575199.683206.703200.852203.383208.851212.681216.061220.886221.615225.262232.603238.364243.315246.462260.968288.899303.652307.945

Adjust Atlanta prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2018 / CPI in 1985 * 1985 USD value = 2018 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Atlanta, Georgia was 108.675 in the year 1985 and 238.364 in 2018:

238.364 / 108.675 * $500 = $1,096.68

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $500 in 1985 has the same "purchasing power" as $1,096.68 in 2018 (in the CPI category of Atlanta, Georgia).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Atlanta, Georgia in 1917. In addition to Atlanta, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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