How much is a 1981 dollar worth now in 2008, adjusted for inflation?

Question

How much is a 1981 dollar worth now in 2008, adjusted for inflation?

Answer 1

The amount equivalent to 1 1981 dollar in 2007 using several measures

$2.28  using the  Consumer Price Index

$2.02 using the GDP deflator

$2.97 using the value of consumer bundle *

$2.27 using the unskilled wage *

$3.37 using the nominal GDP per capita

http://www.measuringworth.com/uscompare/

OR one 2007 dollar in 1981

$0.44  using the  Consumer Price Index

$0.49 using the GDP deflator

$0.34 using the value of consumer bundle

$0.44 using the unskilled wage

$0.30 using the nominal GDP per capita

Answer 2

Off the top of my head, I'd say around 25-33 cents.

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That appears to be a reasonable guess, but a little low.

From ftp://ftp.bls.gov/pub/special.requests/c...

the Consumer Price Index in 1981 was about 90,

now it's about 210.

90/210 = .429, which yields a figure of 43 cents.

Based on my own experience, rent is up about 3 for 1,

a new car is up about 2 1/2 to 1, my salary up in that range as well.

Answer 3

it takes $2.36 in 2008 dollars to purchase what could be bought in 1981 for $1.00; or

What costs $1.00 in 2008 cost only 42 cents in 1981.

Isn't it a horrible thing the government and the Fed are doing to us?

Answer 4

I think MathMan TG is correct.

Answer 5

Kinda sad really

Answer 6

A dollar.

Answer 7

Paper dollar from 1981 is worth a dollar today.

Now if your asking about a dollars worth, 41 cents @ 142.66% inflation since 1981.

Answer 8

Inflation Calculator

http://data.bls.gov/cgi-bin/cpicalc.pl

$1 in 1981

"has the same buying power as"

$2.61 in 2008