According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for energy were 899.77% higher in 2019 versus 1957 (a $4,498.86 difference in value).
Between 1957 and 2019: Energy experienced an average inflation rate of 3.78% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, energy costing $500 in the year 1957 would cost $4,998.86 in 2019 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.63% during this same period, inflation for energy was higher.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Energy:
| Year | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
| CPI | 21.475 | 21.517 | 21.875 | 22.442 | 22.492 | 22.583 | 22.633 | 22.533 | 22.950 | 23.308 | 23.833 | 24.192 | 24.842 | 25.500 | 26.517 | 27.250 | 29.442 | 38.042 | 42.075 | 45.125 | 49.400 | 52.542 | 65.775 | 86.058 | 97.700 | 99.158 | 99.867 | 100.858 | 101.550 | 88.242 | 88.558 | 89.217 | 94.308 | 102.033 | 102.475 | 103.008 | 104.208 | 104.650 | 105.233 | 110.133 | 111.533 | 102.875 | 106.625 | 124.583 | 129.158 | 121.683 | 136.692 | 151.458 | 177.100 | 196.633 | 207.765 | 236.190 | 193.410 | 211.682 | 243.744 | 245.999 | 244.328 | 243.307 | 202.616 | 189.478 | 204.649 | 219.873 | 214.701 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Energy, over time, for $500 beginning in 1957. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | $500.00 | - |
| 1958 | $500.97 | 0.19% |
| 1959 | $509.31 | 1.67% |
| 1960 | $522.51 | 2.59% |
| 1961 | $523.67 | 0.22% |
| 1962 | $525.81 | 0.41% |
| 1963 | $526.97 | 0.22% |
| 1964 | $524.64 | -0.44% |
| 1965 | $534.34 | 1.85% |
| 1966 | $542.69 | 1.56% |
| 1967 | $554.91 | 2.25% |
| 1968 | $563.25 | 1.50% |
| 1969 | $578.39 | 2.69% |
| 1970 | $593.71 | 2.65% |
| 1971 | $617.38 | 3.99% |
| 1972 | $634.46 | 2.77% |
| 1973 | $685.49 | 8.04% |
| 1974 | $885.72 | 29.21% |
| 1975 | $979.63 | 10.60% |
| 1976 | $1,050.64 | 7.25% |
| 1977 | $1,150.17 | 9.47% |
| 1978 | $1,223.32 | 6.36% |
| 1979 | $1,531.43 | 25.19% |
| 1980 | $2,003.69 | 30.84% |
| 1981 | $2,274.74 | 13.53% |
| 1982 | $2,308.69 | 1.49% |
| 1983 | $2,325.18 | 0.71% |
| 1984 | $2,348.27 | 0.99% |
| 1985 | $2,364.38 | 0.69% |
| 1986 | $2,054.52 | -13.11% |
| 1987 | $2,061.89 | 0.36% |
| 1988 | $2,077.22 | 0.74% |
| 1989 | $2,195.77 | 5.71% |
| 1990 | $2,375.63 | 8.19% |
| 1991 | $2,385.91 | 0.43% |
| 1992 | $2,398.33 | 0.52% |
| 1993 | $2,426.27 | 1.16% |
| 1994 | $2,436.55 | 0.42% |
| 1995 | $2,450.14 | 0.56% |
| 1996 | $2,564.22 | 4.66% |
| 1997 | $2,596.82 | 1.27% |
| 1998 | $2,395.23 | -7.76% |
| 1999 | $2,482.54 | 3.65% |
| 2000 | $2,900.66 | 16.84% |
| 2001 | $3,007.18 | 3.67% |
| 2002 | $2,833.14 | -5.79% |
| 2003 | $3,182.58 | 12.33% |
| 2004 | $3,526.39 | 10.80% |
| 2005 | $4,123.40 | 16.93% |
| 2006 | $4,578.19 | 11.03% |
| 2007 | $4,837.37 | 5.66% |
| 2008 | $5,499.19 | 13.68% |
| 2009 | $4,503.14 | -18.11% |
| 2010 | $4,928.57 | 9.45% |
| 2011 | $5,675.06 | 15.15% |
| 2012 | $5,727.56 | 0.93% |
| 2013 | $5,688.66 | -0.68% |
| 2014 | $5,664.89 | -0.42% |
| 2015 | $4,717.48 | -16.72% |
| 2016 | $4,411.61 | -6.48% |
| 2017 | $4,764.82 | 8.01% |
| 2018 | $5,119.28 | 7.44% |
| 2019 | $4,998.86 | -2.35%* |