$50 in 1973 is worth $333.64 today.
The value of $50 from 1973 to 2022
$50 in 1973 has the purchasing power of about $333.64 today, a $283.64 increase in 49 years. Between 1973 and today, the dollar experienced an average annual inflation rate of 3.95%, resulting in a cumulative price increase of 567.29%.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index, today's prices are several times higher than the average price since 1973.
In 1973, the inflation rate was 6.18%. Inflation is now 8.52% higher than it was last year. If this figure holds true, $50 today will be worth $476 next year in purchasing power.
Inflation from 1973 to 2022
| Summary | Value |
|---|---|
| Cumulative price change (from 1973 to today) | 567.29% |
| Average inflation rate (from 1973 to today) | 3.95% |
| Converted amount | $333.64 |
| Price Difference | $283.64 |
| CPI in 1973 | 44.4 |
| CPI in 2022 | 296.276 |
| Inflation in 1973 | 6.18% |
| Inflation in 2022 | 8.52% |
| $50 in 1973 | $333.64 in 2022 |
Buying power of $50 in 1973
If you had $50 in your hand in 1973, its adjusted value for inflation today would be $333.64. Put another way, you would need $333.64 to beat the rising inflation. When $50 becomes equivalent to $333.64 over time, the "real value" of a single US dollar decreases. In other words, a dollar will pay for fewer items at the store.
This effect explains how inflation gradually erodes the value of a dollar. By calculating the value in 1973 dollars, it's evident how $50 loses its worth over 49 years.
Dollar inflation for $50 from 1973 to 2022
The below tabular column shows the effect of inflation on $50 in the year 1973 to the year 1973.
| Year | Dollar Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | 50 | 6.18% |
| 1974 | 53.82 | 11.05% |
| 1975 | 57.92 | 9.13% |
| 1976 | 62.34 | 5.76% |
| 1977 | 67.1 | 6.50% |
| 1978 | 72.22 | 7.59% |
| 1979 | 80.35 | 11.35% |
| 1980 | 91.23 | 13.50% |
| 1981 | 100.66 | 10.32% |
| 1982 | 106.84 | 6.16% |
| 1983 | 110.27 | 3.21% |
| 1984 | 115.01 | 4.32% |
| 1985 | 119.09 | 3.56% |
| 1986 | 121.35 | 1.86% |
| 1987 | 125.79 | 3.65% |
| 1988 | 130.92 | 4.14% |
| 1989 | 137.24 | 4.82% |
| 1990 | 144.65 | 5.40% |
| 1991 | 150.78 | 4.21% |
| 1992 | 155.34 | 3.01% |
| 1993 | 159.93 | 2.99% |
| 1994 | 164.1 | 2.56% |
| 1995 | 168.7 | 2.83% |
| 1996 | 173.65 | 2.95% |
| 1997 | 177.71 | 2.29% |
| 1998 | 180.47 | 1.56% |
| 1999 | 184.42 | 2.21% |
| 2000 | 190.64 | 3.36% |
| 2001 | 196.03 | 2.85% |
| 2002 | 199.14 | 1.58% |
| 2003 | 203.66 | 2.28% |
| 2004 | 209.11 | 2.66% |
| 2005 | 216.21 | 3.39% |
| 2006 | 223.18 | 3.23% |
| 2007 | 229.55 | 2.85% |
| 2008 | 238.36 | 3.84% |
| 2009 | 237.51 | -0.36% |
| 2010 | 241.41 | 1.64% |
| 2011 | 249.03 | 3.16% |
| 2012 | 254.18 | 2.07% |
| 2013 | 257.91 | 1.46% |
| 2014 | 262.09 | 1.62% |
| 2015 | 262.4 | 0.12% |
| 2016 | 265.71 | 1.26% |
| 2017 | 271.39 | 2.13% |
| 2018 | 278.01 | 2.49% |
| 2019 | 283.05 | 1.76% |
| 2020 | 286.54 | 1.23% |
| 2021 | 300 | 4.70% |
| 2022 | 328.35 | 8.52% |
Conversion of 1973 dollars to today's price
Based on the 567.29% change in prices, the following 1973 amounts are shown in today's dollars:
| Initial value | Today value |
|---|---|
| $1 dollar in 1973 | $6.67 dollars today |
| $5 dollars in 1973 | $33.36 dollars today |
| $10 dollars in 1973 | $66.73 dollars today |
| $50 dollars in 1973 | $333.64 dollars today |
| $100 dollars in 1973 | $667.29 dollars today |
| $500 dollars in 1973 | $3336.44 dollars today |
| $1,000 dollars in 1973 | $6672.88 dollars today |
| $5,000 dollars in 1973 | $33364.41 dollars today |
| $10,000 dollars in 1973 | $66728.83 dollars today |
| $50,000 dollars in 1973 | $333644.14 dollars today |
| $100,000 dollars in 1973 | $667288.29 dollars today |
| $500,000 dollars in 1973 | $3336441.44 dollars today |
| $1,000,000 dollars in 1973 | $6672882.88 dollars today |
How to calculate the inflated value of $50 in 1973
To calculate the change in value between 1973 and today, we use the following inflation rate formula:
CPI Today / CPI in 1973 x USD Value in 1973 = Current USD Value
By plugging the values into the formula above, we get:
296.276/ 44.4 x $50 = $333.64
To buy the same product that you could buy for $50 in 1973, you would need $333.64 in 2022.
To calculate the cumulative or total inflation rate in the past 49 years between 1973 and 2022, we use the following formula:
CPI in 2022 - CPI in 1973 / CPI in 1973 x 100 = Cumulative Inflation Rate
By inserting the values to this equation, we get:
( 296.276 - 44.4 / 44.4) x 100 = 567.29%
Alternate method to calculate today's value of money after inflation - Using compound interest formula
Given that money changes over time due to inflation, which acts as compound interest, we can use the following formula:
FV = PV (1+i/100)^n
where,
- FV = Future value
- PV = Present value
- i: Average interest rate (inflation)
- n: Number of times the interest is compounded (i.e. # of years)
The future value in this case represents the amount obtained after applying the inflation rate to our initial value. In other words, it indicates how much $50 is worth today. We have 49 years between 2022 and 1973. The average inflation rate was 3.9495765539454%.
Plugging in the values into the formula, we get:
50 (1+ % 3.95/ 100 ) ^ 49 = $333.64