For the complete page of reports on the History of Inflation in the United States, CLICK HERE.
Gardner Magazine Reports – The History of Inflation in the U.S.
In this comprehensive group of reports, Gardner Magazine reports on the complex history of inflation in the United States from the 23.7% spike right after World War I, the 1970s, and the 9.1% spike during the last administration. For the complete page of reports, CLICK HERE.
Listen to a “Deep Dive” on the issue with the Chair Man and the Chair Lady on any device, CLICK PLAY.
Listen to a “DEBATE” regarding inflation on any device, CLICK PLAY.
On the complete page of reports, we also have a video detailing the history of inflation in the United States, various reports, and some rather complex, but informative infographics.
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U.S. inflation history is characterized by periods of severe, war-driven volatility (1910s, 1940s), the “Great Inflation” of the 1970s, and a long era of low, stable prices from the 1980s until the post-pandemic surge in 2021–2022. Driven by monetary policy, supply chain shocks, and demand, inflation reached highs over 15% in 1980 and peaks near 9% in 2022. Key Eras in U.S. Inflation History: Early 20th Century & WWI (1913–1920): Rapid, sustained inflation followed the creation of the Federal Reserve and entry into WWI, with prices rising over 80% between 1916 and 1920.Deflation and WWII (1921–1940s): The economy experienced severe deflation during the Great Depression (e.g., -10.3% in 1932). WWII then sparked another wave of inflation.The Great Inflation (1965–1982): Caused by loose monetary policy, inflation began rising in the mid-60s, peaking at over 14% in 1980.The Great Moderation (1983–2019): After aggressive Fed interest rate hikes in the early 1980s, inflation stabilized at low levels, occasionally dropping due to recessions (e.g., 2008).Post-COVID Surge (2021–Present): Inflation hit a 41-year high of 9.1% in June 2022 due to supply chain disruptions, high demand, and fiscal stimulus. It has since eased, with core CPI at 2.6% in December 2025.