Energy priced at $3 in 1957 $30.72 in 2018

Energy Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Energy, 1957-2018 ($3)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for energy were 924.08% higher in 2018 versus 1957 (a $27.72 difference in value).

Between 1957 and 2018: Energy experienced an average inflation rate of 3.89% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, energy costing $3 in the year 1957 would cost $30.72 in 2018 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.66% during this same period, inflation for energy was higher.

Price Inflation for Energy since 1957

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (30.87%), 1974 (29.23%), and 2022 (25.15%).

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Buying power of $3.00 since 1957

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Energy, over time, for $3 beginning in 1957. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1957$3.00-
1958$3.010.25%
1959$3.061.71%
1960$3.132.42%
1961$3.140.27%
1962$3.150.41%
1963$3.160.17%
1964$3.15-0.41%
1965$3.211.84%
1966$3.251.54%
1967$3.332.31%
1968$3.381.48%
1969$3.472.58%
1970$3.562.76%
1971$3.703.95%
1972$3.802.76%
1973$4.118.11%
1974$5.3229.23%
1975$5.8810.61%
1976$6.307.16%
1977$6.909.50%
1978$7.346.35%
1979$9.1825.14%
1980$12.0230.87%
1981$13.6513.58%
1982$13.851.47%
1983$13.960.78%
1984$14.101.00%
1985$14.200.70%
1986$12.32-13.18%
1987$12.370.40%
1988$12.470.76%
1989$13.175.67%
1990$14.268.25%
1991$14.310.35%
1992$14.390.53%
1993$14.551.12%
1994$14.610.45%
1995$14.700.59%
1996$15.384.65%
1997$15.581.26%
1998$14.37-7.75%
1999$14.893.63%
2000$17.4116.88%
2001$18.063.76%
2002$17.00-5.89%
2003$19.0712.18%
2004$21.1510.92%
2005$24.7316.95%
2006$27.5011.19%
2007$29.025.52%
2008$33.0613.93%
2009$26.98-18.40%
2010$29.549.49%
2011$34.0715.35%
2012$34.370.89%
2013$34.14-0.68%
2014$34.02-0.34%
2015$28.34-16.70%
2016$26.48-6.58%
2017$28.577.92%
2018$30.727.53%
2019$30.07-2.11%
2020$27.51-8.52%
2021$33.2921.01%
2022$41.6625.15%
2023$39.57-5.02%
2024$38.19-3.50%*

* 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 Energy:

Year19571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI21.47721.53121.90022.43122.49222.58522.62322.53122.94623.30023.83824.19224.81525.50026.50827.23829.44638.05442.09245.10849.39252.53165.73886.03197.71599.15499.923100.923101.63188.23188.58589.25494.315102.092102.454103.000104.154104.623105.238110.131111.515102.877106.615124.608129.292121.677136.492151.392177.054196.862207.723236.666193.126211.449243.909246.080244.409243.583202.895189.535204.540219.941215.294196.949238.325298.266283.286273.375

Adjust energy prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2018 / CPI in 1957 * 1957 USD value = 2018 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Energy was 21.477 in the year 1957 and 219.941 in 2018:

219.941 / 21.477 * $3 = $30.72

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $3 in 1957 has the same "purchasing power" as $30.72 in 2018 (in the CPI category of Energy).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Energy in 1957. In addition to energy, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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