U.S. inflation · 1983–1991
$100 in 1983 has the same buying power as
$137
in 1991
| Cumulative price change | 36.7% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.99% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $137 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $36.75 |
| CPI in 1983 | 99.6 |
| CPI in 1991 | 136.2 |
| Inflation in 1983 | 3.21% |
| Inflation in 1991 | 4.21% |
| $100 in 1983 → 1991 | $137 |
| $100 in 1991 → 1983 | $73.13 |
Between 1983 and 1991, the Consumer Price Index went from 99.6 to 136.2. Cumulatively, prices increased 36.7%, which works out to an average of 3.99% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1983 bought what $0.73 buys in 1991.
| Amount in 1983 | Value in 1991 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.37 |
| $5.00 | $6.84 |
| $10.00 | $13.67 |
| $20.00 | $27.35 |
| $50.00 | $68.37 |
| $100 | $137 |
| $500 | $684 |
| $1,000 | $1,367 |
| $5,000 | $6,837 |
| $10,000 | $13,675 |
| $100,000 | $136,747 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,367,470 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1983 spending costs in 1991, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1983 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.99% | $137 |
| Medical care | 7.32% | $176 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.54% | $143 |
| Food | 4.03% | $137 |
| Housing | 3.75% | $134 |
| Apparel | 3.18% | $128 |
| Transportation | 2.79% | $125 |
| Energy | 0.32% | $103 |
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 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $131 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $137 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1983 to 1991: $100 is worth $137 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1983-to-1991/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1983 to 1991. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1983-to-1991/
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.