U.S. inflation · 1986–2020
$100 in 1986 has the same buying power as
$236
in 2020
| Cumulative price change | 136.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.56% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $236 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $136 |
| CPI in 1986 | 109.6 |
| CPI in 2020 | 258.811 |
| Inflation in 1986 | 1.86% |
| Inflation in 2020 | 1.23% |
| $100 in 1986 → 2020 | $236 |
| $100 in 2020 → 1986 | $42.35 |
Between 1986 and 2020, the Consumer Price Index went from 109.6 to 258.811. Cumulatively, prices increased 136.1%, which works out to an average of 2.56% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1986 bought what $0.42 buys in 2020.
| Amount in 1986 | Value in 2020 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.36 |
| $5.00 | $11.81 |
| $10.00 | $23.61 |
| $20.00 | $47.23 |
| $50.00 | $118 |
| $100 | $236 |
| $500 | $1,181 |
| $1,000 | $2,361 |
| $5,000 | $11,807 |
| $10,000 | $23,614 |
| $100,000 | $236,141 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,361,414 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1986 spending costs in 2020, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1986 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.56% | $236 |
| Medical care | 4.35% | $425 |
| Food | 2.67% | $245 |
| Housing | 2.67% | $245 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.56% | $236 |
| Energy | 2.39% | $223 |
| Transportation | 2.01% | $197 |
| Apparel | 0.32% | $112 |
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 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $108 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $119 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $128 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $135 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $143 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $149 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $157 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $164 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $172 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $184 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $196 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $199 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $209 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $216 |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% | $219 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $229 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $236 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1986 to 2020: $100 is worth $236 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1986-to-2020/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1986 to 2020. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1986-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.