U.S. inflation · 1987–2016
$100 in 1987 has the same buying power as
$211
in 2016
| Cumulative price change | 111.3% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.61% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $211 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $111 |
| CPI in 1987 | 113.6 |
| CPI in 2016 | 240.007 |
| Inflation in 1987 | 3.65% |
| Inflation in 2016 | 1.26% |
| $100 in 1987 → 2016 | $211 |
| $100 in 2016 → 1987 | $47.33 |
Between 1987 and 2016, the Consumer Price Index went from 113.6 to 240.007. Cumulatively, prices increased 111.3%, which works out to an average of 2.61% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1987 bought what $0.47 buys in 2016.
| Amount in 1987 | Value in 2016 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.11 |
| $5.00 | $10.56 |
| $10.00 | $21.13 |
| $20.00 | $42.25 |
| $50.00 | $106 |
| $100 | $211 |
| $500 | $1,056 |
| $1,000 | $2,113 |
| $5,000 | $10,564 |
| $10,000 | $21,127 |
| $100,000 | $211,274 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,112,738 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1987 spending costs in 2016, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1987 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.61% | $211 |
| Medical care | 4.48% | $356 |
| Food | 2.73% | $218 |
| Energy | 2.66% | $214 |
| Housing | 2.65% | $214 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.58% | $209 |
| Transportation | 2.14% | $185 |
| Apparel | 0.45% | $114 |
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 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $124 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $127 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $130 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $134 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $138 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $141 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $143 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $147 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $152 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $156 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $158 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $162 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $166 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $172 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $177 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $183 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $190 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $189 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $192 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $198 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $202 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $205 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $208 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $209 |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% | $211 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1987 to 2016: $100 is worth $211 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1987-to-2016/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1987 to 2016. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1987-to-2016/
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.