Energy price history from 1983 through 2021

Energy Inflation Calculator

Prices for Energy, 1983-2021 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for energy were 125.62% higher in 2021 versus 1983 (a $25.12 difference in value).

Between 1983 and 2021: Energy experienced an average inflation rate of 2.16% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, energy costing $20 in the year 1983 would cost $45.12 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.62% during this same period, inflation for energy was lower.

In the year 1983: Pricing changed by 0.71%, which is below the average yearly change for energy during the 1983-2021 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1983 (3.21%), inflation for energy was lower.

Price Inflation for Energy since 1957

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (30.84%), 1974 (29.21%), and 1979 (25.19%).

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	2020	2021
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	202.632	189.500	204.705	219.889	215.247	197.286	225.323

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Buying power of $20 since 1983

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Energy, over time, for $20 beginning in 1983. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1983	$20.00	0.71%
1984	$20.20	0.99%
1985	$20.34	0.69%
1986	$17.67	-13.11%
1987	$17.74	0.36%
1988	$17.87	0.74%
1989	$18.89	5.71%
1990	$20.43	8.19%
1991	$20.52	0.43%
1992	$20.63	0.52%
1993	$20.87	1.16%
1994	$20.96	0.42%
1995	$21.07	0.56%
1996	$22.06	4.66%
1997	$22.34	1.27%
1998	$20.60	-7.76%
1999	$21.35	3.65%
2000	$24.95	16.84%
2001	$25.87	3.67%
2002	$24.37	-5.79%
2003	$27.37	12.33%
2004	$30.33	10.80%
2005	$35.47	16.93%
2006	$39.38	11.03%
2007	$41.61	5.66%
2008	$47.30	13.68%
2009	$38.73	-18.11%
2010	$42.39	9.45%
2011	$48.81	15.15%
2012	$49.27	0.93%
2013	$48.93	-0.68%
2014	$48.73	-0.42%
2015	$40.58	-16.72%
2016	$37.95	-6.48%
2017	$41.00	8.02%
2018	$44.04	7.42%
2019	$43.11	-2.11%
2020	$39.51	-8.34%
2021	$45.12	14.21%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.

How to calculate the inflation rate for energy, 1983-2021

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2021 / CPI in 1983 * 1983 USD value = 2021 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Energy was 99.867 in the year 1983 and 225.323 in 2021:

225.323 / 99.867 * $20 = $45.12

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1983 has the same "purchasing power" as $45.12 in 2021 (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.