U.S. inflation · 1983–1989
$100 in 1983 has the same buying power as
$124
in 1989
| Cumulative price change | 24.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.72% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $124 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $24.50 |
| CPI in 1983 | 99.6 |
| CPI in 1989 | 124 |
| Inflation in 1983 | 3.21% |
| Inflation in 1989 | 4.82% |
| $100 in 1983 → 1989 | $124 |
| $100 in 1989 → 1983 | $80.32 |
Between 1983 and 1989, the Consumer Price Index went from 99.6 to 124. Cumulatively, prices increased 24.5%, which works out to an average of 3.72% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1983 bought what $0.80 buys in 1989.
| Amount in 1983 | Value in 1989 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.24 |
| $5.00 | $6.22 |
| $10.00 | $12.45 |
| $20.00 | $24.90 |
| $50.00 | $62.25 |
| $100 | $124 |
| $500 | $622 |
| $1,000 | $1,245 |
| $5,000 | $6,225 |
| $10,000 | $12,450 |
| $100,000 | $124,498 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,244,980 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1983 spending costs in 1989, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1983 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.72% | $124 |
| Medical care | 6.80% | $148 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.41% | $130 |
| Food | 3.91% | $126 |
| Housing | 3.60% | $124 |
| Apparel | 2.85% | $118 |
| Transportation | 2.34% | $115 |
| Energy | -0.96% | $94.39 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1983: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1983 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $100 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $104 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $108 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $110 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $114 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $119 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $124 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1983 to 1989: $100 is worth $124 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1983-to-1989/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1983 to 1989. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1983-to-1989/
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U annual averages (series CUUR0000SA0; category indexes listed on the data sources page). See how these numbers are calculated.