U.S. inflation · 1985–1998
$100 in 1985 has the same buying power as
$151
in 1998
| Cumulative price change | 51.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.25% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $151 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $51.49 |
| CPI in 1985 | 107.6 |
| CPI in 1998 | 163 |
| Inflation in 1985 | 3.56% |
| Inflation in 1998 | 1.56% |
| $100 in 1985 → 1998 | $151 |
| $100 in 1998 → 1985 | $66.01 |
Between 1985 and 1998, the Consumer Price Index went from 107.6 to 163. Cumulatively, prices increased 51.5%, which works out to an average of 3.25% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1985 bought what $0.66 buys in 1998.
| Amount in 1985 | Value in 1998 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.51 |
| $5.00 | $7.57 |
| $10.00 | $15.15 |
| $20.00 | $30.30 |
| $50.00 | $75.74 |
| $100 | $151 |
| $500 | $757 |
| $1,000 | $1,515 |
| $5,000 | $7,574 |
| $10,000 | $15,149 |
| $100,000 | $151,487 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,514,870 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1985 spending costs in 1998, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1985 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.25% | $151 |
| Medical care | 6.00% | $213 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.63% | $159 |
| Food | 3.28% | $152 |
| Housing | 3.11% | $149 |
| Transportation | 2.22% | $133 |
| Apparel | 1.84% | $127 |
| Energy | 0.10% | $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 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $134 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $138 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $142 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $146 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $149 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $151 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1985 to 1998: $100 is worth $151 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1985-to-1998/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1985 to 1998. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1985-to-1998/
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.