U.S. inflation · 1985–1994
$100 in 1985 has the same buying power as
$138
in 1994
| Cumulative price change | 37.7% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.62% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $138 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $37.73 |
| CPI in 1985 | 107.6 |
| CPI in 1994 | 148.2 |
| Inflation in 1985 | 3.56% |
| Inflation in 1994 | 2.56% |
| $100 in 1985 → 1994 | $138 |
| $100 in 1994 → 1985 | $72.60 |
Between 1985 and 1994, the Consumer Price Index went from 107.6 to 148.2. Cumulatively, prices increased 37.7%, which works out to an average of 3.62% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1985 bought what $0.73 buys in 1994.
| Amount in 1985 | Value in 1994 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.38 |
| $5.00 | $6.89 |
| $10.00 | $13.77 |
| $20.00 | $27.55 |
| $50.00 | $68.87 |
| $100 | $138 |
| $500 | $689 |
| $1,000 | $1,377 |
| $5,000 | $6,887 |
| $10,000 | $13,773 |
| $100,000 | $137,732 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,377,323 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1985 spending costs in 1994, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1985 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.62% | $138 |
| Medical care | 7.13% | $186 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.09% | $143 |
| Food | 3.53% | $137 |
| Housing | 3.34% | $134 |
| Apparel | 2.70% | $127 |
| Transportation | 2.62% | $126 |
| Energy | 0.32% | $103 |
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 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $134 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $138 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1985 to 1994: $100 is worth $138 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1985-to-1994/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1985 to 1994. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1985-to-1994/
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.