Boston, Massachusetts prices: $38,000 in 1978 $149,331.39 in 2016

Inflation in Massachusetts

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Prices in Boston, 1978-2016 ($38,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Boston, Massachusetts were 292.98% higher in 2016 versus 1978 (a $111,331.39 difference in value).

Between 1978 and 2016: Boston experienced an average inflation rate of 3.67% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $38,000 in Boston in the year 1978 would cost $149,331.39 in 2016 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.49% during this same period, inflation in Boston was higher.

In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 5.34%, which is above the average yearly change in Boston during the 1978-2016 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation in Boston was lower.

Price Inflation in Boston, Massachusetts since 1914

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1919 (21.27%), 1918 (17.79%), and 1920 (17.25%).

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Buying power of $38,000.00 since 1978

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Boston, over time, for $38,000 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1978$38,000.005.34%
1979$41,824.8610.07%
1980$47,131.8612.69%
1981$52,486.6611.36%
1982$54,733.774.28%
1983$57,152.994.42%
1984$59,964.274.92%
1985$62,622.554.43%
1986$64,334.172.73%
1987$67,078.514.27%
1988$71,018.125.87%
1989$75,158.535.83%
1990$79,509.315.79%
1991$83,114.244.53%
1992$85,141.422.44%
1993$87,675.392.98%
1994$88,784.601.27%
1995$90,916.962.40%
1996$93,575.242.92%
1997$96,271.772.88%
1998$98,442.382.25%
1999$100,823.352.42%
2000$105,145.454.29%
2001$109,802.214.43%
2002$112,603.932.55%
2003$116,773.023.70%
2004$120,119.782.87%
2005$123,925.523.17%
2006$127,884.253.19%
2007$130,291.421.88%
2008$135,069.153.67%
2009$133,971.04-0.81%
2010$136,169.281.64%
2011$139,776.792.65%
2012$142,034.511.62%
2013$144,010.151.39%
2014$146,372.671.64%
2015$147,300.870.63%
2016$149,331.391.38%
2017$153,140.382.55%
2018$158,080.103.23%
2019$161,254.062.01%
2020$162,990.071.08%
2021$168,029.993.09%
2022$180,138.177.21%
2023$186,874.043.74%
2024$189,758.651.54%*

* 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 Boston, Massachusetts:

Year191419151916191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI10.50010.51710.81712.27514.45817.53320.55818.71717.05817.31717.43317.62518.27518.08317.73317.65017.52516.16714.57513.60814.03314.32514.40814.73314.35814.14214.27514.90816.50017.36717.55817.91719.38322.06723.88323.59223.90025.50026.05826.12526.22526.35027.07528.02528.92529.15029.70030.15030.80031.42531.85032.45033.45034.32535.67537.65039.95042.07543.57546.00050.75055.32559.82562.87566.23372.90082.15091.48395.40099.617104.517109.150112.133116.917123.783131.000138.583144.867148.400152.817154.750158.467163.100167.800171.583175.733183.267191.383196.267203.533209.367216.000222.900227.096235.423233.509237.341243.629247.564251.007255.125256.743260.282266.921275.531281.063284.089292.873313.978325.718330.746

Adjust Boston prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2016 / CPI in 1978 * 1978 USD value = 2016 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Boston, Massachusetts was 66.233 in the year 1978 and 260.282 in 2016:

260.282 / 66.233 * $38,000 = $149,331.39

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $38,000 in 1978 has the same "purchasing power" as $149,331.39 in 2016 (in the CPI category of Boston, Massachusetts).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Boston, Massachusetts in 1914. In addition to Boston, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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