U.S. inflation · 1985–1991
$100 in 1985 has the same buying power as
$127
in 1991
| Cumulative price change | 26.6% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.01% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $127 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $26.58 |
| CPI in 1985 | 107.6 |
| CPI in 1991 | 136.2 |
| Inflation in 1985 | 3.56% |
| Inflation in 1991 | 4.21% |
| $100 in 1985 → 1991 | $127 |
| $100 in 1991 → 1985 | $79.00 |
Between 1985 and 1991, the Consumer Price Index went from 107.6 to 136.2. Cumulatively, prices increased 26.6%, which works out to an average of 4.01% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1985 bought what $0.79 buys in 1991.
| Amount in 1985 | Value in 1991 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.27 |
| $5.00 | $6.33 |
| $10.00 | $12.66 |
| $20.00 | $25.32 |
| $50.00 | $63.29 |
| $100 | $127 |
| $500 | $633 |
| $1,000 | $1,266 |
| $5,000 | $6,329 |
| $10,000 | $12,658 |
| $100,000 | $126,580 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,265,799 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1985 spending costs in 1991, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1985 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.01% | $127 |
| Medical care | 7.69% | $156 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.50% | $130 |
| Food | 4.35% | $129 |
| Housing | 3.66% | $124 |
| Apparel | 3.45% | $123 |
| Transportation | 2.56% | $116 |
| Energy | 0.15% | $101 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1985: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1985 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $100 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $102 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $106 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $110 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $115 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $121 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $127 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1985 to 1991: $100 is worth $127 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1985-to-1991/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1985 to 1991. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1985-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.