U.S. inflation · 1987–1991
$100 in 1987 has the same buying power as
$120
in 1991
| Cumulative price change | 19.9% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.64% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $120 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $19.89 |
| CPI in 1987 | 113.6 |
| CPI in 1991 | 136.2 |
| Inflation in 1987 | 3.65% |
| Inflation in 1991 | 4.21% |
| $100 in 1987 → 1991 | $120 |
| $100 in 1991 → 1987 | $83.41 |
Between 1987 and 1991, the Consumer Price Index went from 113.6 to 136.2. Cumulatively, prices increased 19.9%, which works out to an average of 4.64% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1987 bought what $0.83 buys in 1991.
| Amount in 1987 | Value in 1991 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.20 |
| $5.00 | $5.99 |
| $10.00 | $11.99 |
| $20.00 | $23.98 |
| $50.00 | $59.95 |
| $100 | $120 |
| $500 | $599 |
| $1,000 | $1,199 |
| $5,000 | $5,995 |
| $10,000 | $11,989 |
| $100,000 | $119,894 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,198,944 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1987 spending costs in 1991, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1987 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.64% | $120 |
| Medical care | 8.00% | $136 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.71% | $120 |
| Food | 4.68% | $120 |
| Transportation | 4.10% | $117 |
| Housing | 4.00% | $117 |
| Apparel | 3.86% | $116 |
| Energy | 3.71% | $116 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1987: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1987 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $100 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $104 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $109 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $115 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $120 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1987 to 1991: $100 is worth $120 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1987-to-1991/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1987 to 1991. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1987-to-1991/
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.