Energy priced at $1 in 1970 $1.04 in 1971

Energy Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Energy, 1970-1971 ($1)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for energy were 3.95% higher in 1971 versus 1970 (a $0.04 difference in value).

Between 1970 and 1971: Energy experienced an average inflation rate of 3.95% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, energy costing $1 in the year 1970 would cost $1.04 in 1971 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 4.30% during this same period, inflation for energy was lower.

In the year 1970: Pricing changed by 2.76%, which is below the average yearly change for energy during the 1970-1971 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1970 (5.83%), inflation for energy was much lower.

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 $1.00 since 1970

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Energy, over time, for $1 beginning in 1970. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1970$1.002.76%
1971$1.043.95%
1972$1.072.76%
1973$1.158.11%
1974$1.4929.23%
1975$1.6510.61%
1976$1.777.16%
1977$1.949.50%
1978$2.066.35%
1979$2.5825.14%
1980$3.3730.87%
1981$3.8313.58%
1982$3.891.47%
1983$3.920.78%
1984$3.961.00%
1985$3.990.70%
1986$3.46-13.18%
1987$3.470.40%
1988$3.500.76%
1989$3.705.67%
1990$4.008.25%
1991$4.020.35%
1992$4.040.53%
1993$4.081.12%
1994$4.100.45%
1995$4.130.59%
1996$4.324.65%
1997$4.371.26%
1998$4.03-7.75%
1999$4.183.63%
2000$4.8916.88%
2001$5.073.76%
2002$4.77-5.89%
2003$5.3512.18%
2004$5.9410.92%
2005$6.9416.95%
2006$7.7211.19%
2007$8.155.52%
2008$9.2813.93%
2009$7.57-18.40%
2010$8.299.49%
2011$9.5715.35%
2012$9.650.89%
2013$9.58-0.68%
2014$9.55-0.34%
2015$7.96-16.70%
2016$7.43-6.58%
2017$8.027.92%
2018$8.637.53%
2019$8.44-2.11%
2020$7.72-8.52%
2021$9.3521.01%
2022$11.7025.15%
2023$11.11-5.02%
2024$10.72-3.50%*

* 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 1971 / CPI in 1970 * 1970 USD value = 1971 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Energy was 25.500 in the year 1970 and 26.508 in 1971:

26.508 / 25.500 * $1 = $1.04

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $1 in 1970 has the same "purchasing power" as $1.04 in 1971 (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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