U.S. inflation · 1987–2017
$100 in 1987 has the same buying power as
$216
in 2017
| Cumulative price change | 115.8% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.60% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $216 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $116 |
| CPI in 1987 | 113.6 |
| CPI in 2017 | 245.12 |
| Inflation in 1987 | 3.65% |
| Inflation in 2017 | 2.13% |
| $100 in 1987 → 2017 | $216 |
| $100 in 2017 → 1987 | $46.34 |
Between 1987 and 2017, the Consumer Price Index went from 113.6 to 245.12. Cumulatively, prices increased 115.8%, which works out to an average of 2.60% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1987 bought what $0.46 buys in 2017.
| Amount in 1987 | Value in 2017 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.16 |
| $5.00 | $10.79 |
| $10.00 | $21.58 |
| $20.00 | $43.15 |
| $50.00 | $108 |
| $100 | $216 |
| $500 | $1,079 |
| $1,000 | $2,158 |
| $5,000 | $10,789 |
| $10,000 | $21,577 |
| $100,000 | $215,775 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,157,746 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1987 spending costs in 2017, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1987 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.60% | $216 |
| Medical care | 4.41% | $365 |
| Energy | 2.83% | $231 |
| Food | 2.67% | $220 |
| Housing | 2.66% | $220 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.56% | $213 |
| Transportation | 2.18% | $191 |
| Apparel | 0.43% | $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 |
| 2017 | 245.12 | 2.1% | $216 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1987 to 2017: $100 is worth $216 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1987-to-2017/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1987 to 2017. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1987-to-2017/
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.