U.S. inflation · 1986–1998
$100 in 1986 has the same buying power as
$149
in 1998
| Cumulative price change | 48.7% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.36% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $149 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $48.72 |
| CPI in 1986 | 109.6 |
| CPI in 1998 | 163 |
| Inflation in 1986 | 1.86% |
| Inflation in 1998 | 1.56% |
| $100 in 1986 → 1998 | $149 |
| $100 in 1998 → 1986 | $67.24 |
Between 1986 and 1998, the Consumer Price Index went from 109.6 to 163. Cumulatively, prices increased 48.7%, which works out to an average of 3.36% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1986 bought what $0.67 buys in 1998.
| Amount in 1986 | Value in 1998 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.49 |
| $5.00 | $7.44 |
| $10.00 | $14.87 |
| $20.00 | $29.74 |
| $50.00 | $74.36 |
| $100 | $149 |
| $500 | $744 |
| $1,000 | $1,487 |
| $5,000 | $7,436 |
| $10,000 | $14,872 |
| $100,000 | $148,723 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,487,226 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1986 spending costs in 1998, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1986 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.36% | $149 |
| Medical care | 5.88% | $198 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.59% | $153 |
| Food | 3.29% | $147 |
| Housing | 3.12% | $145 |
| Transportation | 2.75% | $138 |
| Apparel | 1.92% | $126 |
| Energy | 1.29% | $117 |
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 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $139 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $143 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $146 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $149 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1986 to 1998: $100 is worth $149 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1986-to-1998/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1986 to 1998. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1986-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.