Jan 3 2009
Federal political action committees, PACs, raise "hard" money for the purpose of defeating or electing candidates to federal office. PACs can give $5,000 to a candidate committee per election cycle (primary, general or special). They can also give up to $15,000 each year to any national party committee and up to $5,000 annually to any other PAC.
This table provides nominal and inflation-adjusted data (millions of dollars) from 1972-2006. Exception: 1990 - data unavailable.
Data sources:
FEC, Campaign Finance, Federal Reserve CPI Calculator
PAC Contributions to All Federal Candidates - Millions $
| Year | Nominal $ | Inflation-Adjusted (1992 $) |
| 2006 | $372.1 | $258.96 |
| 2004 | $310.5 | $230.61 |
| 2002 | $282.0 | $219.93 |
| 2000 | $259.8 | $211.67 |
| 1998 | $219.9 | $189.28 |
| 1996 | $217.8 | $194.76 |
| 1994 | $189.6 | $179.49 |
| 1992 | $188.9 | |
| 1990 | n/a | |
| 1988 | $151.3 | $179.44 |
| 1986 | $132.7 | $169.87 |
| 1984 | $106.3 | $143.54 |
| 1982 | $83.6 | $121.54 |
| 1980 | $65.2 | $111.01 |
| 1978 | $34.1 | $73.38 |
| 1976 | $20.5 | $50.55 |
| 1974 | $11.6 | $33.01 |
| 1972 | $8.5 | $28.53 |