U.S. inflation · 1985–2020
$100 in 1985 has the same buying power as
$241
in 2020
| Cumulative price change | 140.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.54% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $241 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $141 |
| CPI in 1985 | 107.6 |
| CPI in 2020 | 258.811 |
| Inflation in 1985 | 3.56% |
| Inflation in 2020 | 1.23% |
| $100 in 1985 → 2020 | $241 |
| $100 in 2020 → 1985 | $41.57 |
Between 1985 and 2020, the Consumer Price Index went from 107.6 to 258.811. Cumulatively, prices increased 140.5%, which works out to an average of 2.54% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1985 bought what $0.42 buys in 2020.
| Amount in 1985 | Value in 2020 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.41 |
| $5.00 | $12.03 |
| $10.00 | $24.05 |
| $20.00 | $48.11 |
| $50.00 | $120 |
| $100 | $241 |
| $500 | $1,203 |
| $1,000 | $2,405 |
| $5,000 | $12,027 |
| $10,000 | $24,053 |
| $100,000 | $240,531 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,405,307 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1985 spending costs in 2020, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1985 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.54% | $241 |
| Medical care | 4.44% | $457 |
| Food | 2.69% | $253 |
| Housing | 2.68% | $252 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.60% | $245 |
| Energy | 1.91% | $194 |
| Transportation | 1.84% | $189 |
| Apparel | 0.34% | $112 |
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 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $106 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $115 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $127 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $134 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $142 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $149 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $155 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $165 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $171 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $182 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $193 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $199 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $209 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $217 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $220 |
| 2017 | 245.12 | 2.1% | $228 |
| 2019 | 255.657 | 1.8% | $238 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $241 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1985 to 2020: $100 is worth $241 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1985-to-2020/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1985 to 2020. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1985-to-2020/
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.