U.S. inflation · 1985–2021
$100 in 1985 has the same buying power as
$252
in 2021
| Cumulative price change | 151.8% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.60% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $252 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $152 |
| CPI in 1985 | 107.6 |
| CPI in 2021 | 270.97 |
| Inflation in 1985 | 3.56% |
| Inflation in 2021 | 4.70% |
| $100 in 1985 → 2021 | $252 |
| $100 in 2021 → 1985 | $39.71 |
Between 1985 and 2021, the Consumer Price Index went from 107.6 to 270.97. Cumulatively, prices increased 151.8%, which works out to an average of 2.60% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1985 bought what $0.40 buys in 2021.
| Amount in 1985 | Value in 2021 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.52 |
| $5.00 | $12.59 |
| $10.00 | $25.18 |
| $20.00 | $50.37 |
| $50.00 | $126 |
| $100 | $252 |
| $500 | $1,259 |
| $1,000 | $2,518 |
| $5,000 | $12,592 |
| $10,000 | $25,183 |
| $100,000 | $251,831 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,518,309 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1985 spending costs in 2021, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1985 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.60% | $252 |
| Medical care | 4.35% | $463 |
| Food | 2.72% | $263 |
| Housing | 2.70% | $261 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.62% | $254 |
| Energy | 2.40% | $235 |
| Transportation | 2.17% | $217 |
| Apparel | 0.39% | $115 |
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 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $252 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1985 to 2021: $100 is worth $252 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1985-to-2021/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1985 to 2021. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1985-to-2021/
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.