Value of $1 from 1985 to 1996
$1 in 1985 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $1.41 in 1996, an increase of $0.41 over 11 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 3.19% per year between 1985 and 1996, producing a cumulative price increase of 41.21%.
This means that prices in 1996 are 1.41 times as high as average prices since 1985, according to Statistics Canada consumer price index.
The inflation rate in 1985 was 3.96%. The inflation rate in 1996 was 1.57%. The 1996 inflation rate is lower compared to the average inflation rate of 2.09% per year between 1996 and 2024.
⌃
| Cumulative price change | 41.21% |
| Average inflation rate | 3.19% |
| Converted amount $1 base | $1.41 |
| Price difference $1 base | $0.41 |
| CPI in 1985 | 62.975 |
| CPI in 1996 | 88.925 |
| Inflation in 1985 | 3.96% |
| Inflation in 1996 | 1.57% |
| $1 in 1985 | $1.41 in 1996 |
Buying power of $1 in 1985
This chart shows a calculation of buying power equivalence for $1 in 1985 (price index tracking began in 1914).
For example, if you started with $1, you would need to end with $1.41 in order to "adjust" for inflation (sometimes refered to as "beating inflation").
When $1 is equivalent to $1.41 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 1985 dollars, the chart below shows how $1 is worth less over 11 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 1985 amounts in 1996 dollars, based on the 41.21% change in prices:
| Initial value | Equivalent value |
|---|---|
| $1 dollar in 1985 | $1.41 dollars in 1996 |
| $5 dollars in 1985 | $7.06 dollars in 1996 |
| $10 dollars in 1985 | $14.12 dollars in 1996 |
| $50 dollars in 1985 | $70.60 dollars in 1996 |
| $100 dollars in 1985 | $141.21 dollars in 1996 |
| $500 dollars in 1985 | $706.03 dollars in 1996 |
| $1,000 dollars in 1985 | $1,412.07 dollars in 1996 |
| $5,000 dollars in 1985 | $7,060.34 dollars in 1996 |
| $10,000 dollars in 1985 | $14,120.68 dollars in 1996 |
| $50,000 dollars in 1985 | $70,603.41 dollars in 1996 |
| $100,000 dollars in 1985 | $141,206.83 dollars in 1996 |
| $500,000 dollars in 1985 | $706,034.14 dollars in 1996 |
| $1,000,000 dollars in 1985 | $1,412,068.28 dollars in 1996 |
How to calculate inflation rate for $1, 1985 to 1996
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1985 and 1996:
CPI in 1996 CPI in 1985
×
1985 CAD value
=
1996 CAD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The Canadian CPI was 62.975 in the year 1985 and 88.925 in 1996:
88.92562.975
×
$1
=
$1.41
$1 in 1985 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $1.41 in 1996.
To get the total inflation rate for the 11 years between 1985 and 1996, we use the following formula:
CPI in 1996 - CPI in 1985CPI in 1985
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (11 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
88.925 - 62.97562.975
×
100
=
41%
Data source & citation
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 1985 → 1996 | Canada Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 26 Apr. 2024, https://www.officialdata.org/canada/inflation/1985?amount=1&endYear=1996.
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 | 41.21% |
| Average inflation rate | 3.19% |
| Converted amount $1 base | $1.41 |
| Price difference $1 base | $0.41 |
| CPI in 1985 | 62.975 |
| CPI in 1996 | 88.925 |
| Inflation in 1985 | 3.96% |
| Inflation in 1996 | 1.57% |
| $1 in 1985 | $1.41 in 1996 |