econsalon: Macro question 2/24

econsalon: Macro question 2/24: "Find the CPI number for the year you were born. What was it? What base year did it reference? How much inflation have we had since then?"

I was born in 1970 and the average CPI that year was 38.8. I do not understand what base year it referenced, the list was bunched with the years 1966-1970, unclear as how it is presented. To find out how much inflation we have had compared to today's CPI, one uses the following formula:

given year (221 cpi -2011)/ base year (38.8 cpi - 1970) X 100 - 100 (cpi base) = % of increased CPI

Utilizing 1970 CPI data: 221/38.8 = 5.69 X 100 = 569.58 - 100 = 469.58%

Since 1970 inflation has gone up by 469.58%. It sounds ridiculous and inaccurate but the formulas proves this immense increase.