Energy priced at $50 in 1986 $114.98 in 2015

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Prices for Energy, 1986-2015 ($50)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for energy were 129.96% higher in 2015 versus 1986 (a $64.98 difference in value).

Between 1986 and 2015: Energy experienced an average inflation rate of 2.91% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, energy costing $50 in the year 1986 would cost $114.98 in 2015 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.70% during this same period, inflation for energy was higher.

In the year 1986: Pricing changed by -13.18%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for energy during the 1986-2015 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1986 (1.90%), 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 $50.00 since 1986

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Energy, over time, for $50 beginning in 1986. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1986$50.00-13.18%
1987$50.200.40%
1988$50.580.76%
1989$53.455.67%
1990$57.868.25%
1991$58.060.35%
1992$58.370.53%
1993$59.021.12%
1994$59.290.45%
1995$59.640.59%
1996$62.414.65%
1997$63.201.26%
1998$58.30-7.75%
1999$60.423.63%
2000$70.6116.88%
2001$73.273.76%
2002$68.95-5.89%
2003$77.3512.18%
2004$85.7910.92%
2005$100.3416.95%
2006$111.5611.19%
2007$117.725.52%
2008$134.1213.93%
2009$109.44-18.40%
2010$119.839.49%
2011$138.2215.35%
2012$139.450.89%
2013$138.51-0.68%
2014$138.04-0.34%
2015$114.98-16.70%
2016$107.41-6.58%
2017$115.917.92%
2018$124.647.53%
2019$122.01-2.11%
2020$111.61-8.52%
2021$135.0621.01%
2022$169.0325.15%
2023$160.54-5.02%
2024$154.92-3.50%*

* 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 2015 / CPI in 1986 * 1986 USD value = 2015 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Energy was 88.231 in the year 1986 and 202.895 in 2015:

202.895 / 88.231 * $50 = $114.98

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $50 in 1986 has the same "purchasing power" as $114.98 in 2015 (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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