U.S. inflation · 1985–1992
$100 in 1985 has the same buying power as
$130
in 1992
| Cumulative price change | 30.4% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.86% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $130 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $30.39 |
| CPI in 1985 | 107.6 |
| CPI in 1992 | 140.3 |
| Inflation in 1985 | 3.56% |
| Inflation in 1992 | 3.01% |
| $100 in 1985 → 1992 | $130 |
| $100 in 1992 → 1985 | $76.69 |
Between 1985 and 1992, the Consumer Price Index went from 107.6 to 140.3. Cumulatively, prices increased 30.4%, which works out to an average of 3.86% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1985 bought what $0.77 buys in 1992.
| Amount in 1985 | Value in 1992 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.30 |
| $5.00 | $6.52 |
| $10.00 | $13.04 |
| $20.00 | $26.08 |
| $50.00 | $65.20 |
| $100 | $130 |
| $500 | $652 |
| $1,000 | $1,304 |
| $5,000 | $6,520 |
| $10,000 | $13,039 |
| $100,000 | $130,390 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,303,903 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1985 spending costs in 1992, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1985 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.86% | $130 |
| Medical care | 7.65% | $167 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.38% | $135 |
| Food | 3.89% | $131 |
| Housing | 3.55% | $128 |
| Apparel | 3.31% | $126 |
| Transportation | 2.50% | $119 |
| Energy | 0.20% | $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 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $130 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1985 to 1992: $100 is worth $130 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1985-to-1992/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1985 to 1992. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1985-to-1992/
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.