U.S. inflation · 1988–1991
$100 in 1988 has the same buying power as
$115
in 1991
| Cumulative price change | 15.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 4.81% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $115 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $15.13 |
| CPI in 1988 | 118.3 |
| CPI in 1991 | 136.2 |
| Inflation in 1988 | 4.14% |
| Inflation in 1991 | 4.21% |
| $100 in 1988 → 1991 | $115 |
| $100 in 1991 → 1988 | $86.86 |
Between 1988 and 1991, the Consumer Price Index went from 118.3 to 136.2. Cumulatively, prices increased 15.1%, which works out to an average of 4.81% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1988 bought what $0.87 buys in 1991.
| Amount in 1988 | Value in 1991 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.15 |
| $5.00 | $5.76 |
| $10.00 | $11.51 |
| $20.00 | $23.03 |
| $50.00 | $57.57 |
| $100 | $115 |
| $500 | $576 |
| $1,000 | $1,151 |
| $5,000 | $5,757 |
| $10,000 | $11,513 |
| $100,000 | $115,131 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,151,310 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1988 spending costs in 1991, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1988 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 4.81% | $115 |
| Medical care | 8.49% | $128 |
| Food | 4.86% | $115 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 4.82% | $115 |
| Energy | 4.70% | $115 |
| Transportation | 4.43% | $114 |
| Housing | 4.08% | $113 |
| Apparel | 3.70% | $112 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1988: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1988 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $100 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $105 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $110 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $115 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1988 to 1991: $100 is worth $115 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1988-to-1991/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1988 to 1991. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1988-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.