U.S. inflation · 1986–1994
$100 in 1986 has the same buying power as
$135
in 1994
| Cumulative price change | 35.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.84% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $135 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $35.22 |
| CPI in 1986 | 109.6 |
| CPI in 1994 | 148.2 |
| Inflation in 1986 | 1.86% |
| Inflation in 1994 | 2.56% |
| $100 in 1986 → 1994 | $135 |
| $100 in 1994 → 1986 | $73.95 |
Between 1986 and 1994, the Consumer Price Index went from 109.6 to 148.2. Cumulatively, prices increased 35.2%, which works out to an average of 3.84% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1986 bought what $0.74 buys in 1994.
| Amount in 1986 | Value in 1994 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.35 |
| $5.00 | $6.76 |
| $10.00 | $13.52 |
| $20.00 | $27.04 |
| $50.00 | $67.61 |
| $100 | $135 |
| $500 | $676 |
| $1,000 | $1,352 |
| $5,000 | $6,761 |
| $10,000 | $13,522 |
| $100,000 | $135,219 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,352,190 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1986 spending costs in 1994, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1986 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.84% | $135 |
| Medical care | 7.09% | $173 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.10% | $138 |
| Food | 3.57% | $132 |
| Transportation | 3.46% | $131 |
| Housing | 3.39% | $131 |
| Apparel | 2.93% | $126 |
| Energy | 2.15% | $119 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1986: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1986 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $100 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $104 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $108 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $113 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $119 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $124 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $128 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $132 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $135 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1986 to 1994: $100 is worth $135 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1986-to-1994/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1986 to 1994. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1986-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.