$1 in 1970 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $3.23 in 1986, an increase of $2.23 over 16 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 7.60% per year between 1970 and 1986, producing a cumulative price increase of 222.70%.
This means that prices in 1986 are 3.23 times as high as average prices since 1970, according to Statistics Canada consumer price index.
The inflation rate in 1970 was 3.35%. The inflation rate in 1986 was 4.19%. The 1986 inflation rate is higher compared to the average inflation rate of 2.35% per year between 1986 and 2024.
Cumulative price change | 222.70% |
Average inflation rate | 7.60% |
Converted amount $1 base | $3.23 |
Price difference $1 base | $2.23 |
CPI in 1970 | 20.333 |
CPI in 1986 | 65.617 |
Inflation in 1970 | 3.35% |
Inflation in 1986 | 4.19% |
$1 in 1970 | $3.23 in 1986 |
This chart shows a calculation of buying power equivalence for $1 in 1970 (price index tracking began in 1914).
For example, if you started with $1, you would need to end with $3.23 in order to "adjust" for inflation (sometimes refered to as "beating inflation").
When $1 is equivalent to $3.23 over time, that means that the "real value" of a single Canadian dollar decreases over time. In other words, a dollar will pay for fewer items at the store.
This effect explains how inflation erodes the value of a dollar over time. By calculating the value in 1970 dollars, the chart below shows how $1 is worth less over 16 years.
According to Statistics Canada, each of these CAD amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
This conversion table shows various other 1970 amounts in 1986 dollars, based on the 222.70% change in prices:
Initial value | Equivalent value |
---|---|
$1 dollar in 1970 | $3.23 dollars in 1986 |
$5 dollars in 1970 | $16.14 dollars in 1986 |
$10 dollars in 1970 | $32.27 dollars in 1986 |
$50 dollars in 1970 | $161.35 dollars in 1986 |
$100 dollars in 1970 | $322.70 dollars in 1986 |
$500 dollars in 1970 | $1,613.52 dollars in 1986 |
$1,000 dollars in 1970 | $3,227.05 dollars in 1986 |
$5,000 dollars in 1970 | $16,135.25 dollars in 1986 |
$10,000 dollars in 1970 | $32,270.49 dollars in 1986 |
$50,000 dollars in 1970 | $161,352.46 dollars in 1986 |
$100,000 dollars in 1970 | $322,704.92 dollars in 1986 |
$500,000 dollars in 1970 | $1,613,524.59 dollars in 1986 |
$1,000,000 dollars in 1970 | $3,227,049.18 dollars in 1986 |
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1970 and 1986:
Then plug in historical CPI values. The Canadian CPI was 20.33333333 in the year 1970 and 65.61666667 in 1986:
$1 in 1970 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $3.23 in 1986.
To get the total inflation rate for the 16 years between 1970 and 1986, we use the following formula:
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
Raw data for these calculations comes from the government of Canada's annual Consumer Price Index (CPI), established in 1914 and computed by Statistics Canada (StatCan).
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “$1 in 1970 → 1986 | Canada Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 8 May. 2024, https://www.officialdata.org/canada/inflation/1970?amount=1&endYear=1986.
Special thanks to QuickChart for their chart image API, which is used for chart downloads.
in2013dollars.com is a reference website maintained by the Official Data Foundation.
Cumulative price change | 222.70% |
Average inflation rate | 7.60% |
Converted amount $1 base | $3.23 |
Price difference $1 base | $2.23 |
CPI in 1970 | 20.333 |
CPI in 1986 | 65.617 |
Inflation in 1970 | 3.35% |
Inflation in 1986 | 4.19% |
$1 in 1970 | $3.23 in 1986 |