U.S. inflation · 1988–1999
$100 in 1988 has the same buying power as
$141
in 1999
| Cumulative price change | 40.8% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.16% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $141 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $40.83 |
| CPI in 1988 | 118.3 |
| CPI in 1999 | 166.6 |
| Inflation in 1988 | 4.14% |
| Inflation in 1999 | 2.21% |
| $100 in 1988 → 1999 | $141 |
| $100 in 1999 → 1988 | $71.01 |
Between 1988 and 1999, the Consumer Price Index went from 118.3 to 166.6. Cumulatively, prices increased 40.8%, which works out to an average of 3.16% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1988 bought what $0.71 buys in 1999.
| Amount in 1988 | Value in 1999 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.41 |
| $5.00 | $7.04 |
| $10.00 | $14.08 |
| $20.00 | $28.17 |
| $50.00 | $70.41 |
| $100 | $141 |
| $500 | $704 |
| $1,000 | $1,408 |
| $5,000 | $7,041 |
| $10,000 | $14,083 |
| $100,000 | $140,828 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,408,284 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1988 spending costs in 1999, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1988 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.16% | $141 |
| Medical care | 5.53% | $181 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.33% | $143 |
| Food | 3.03% | $139 |
| Housing | 2.99% | $138 |
| Transportation | 2.62% | $133 |
| Energy | 1.62% | $119 |
| Apparel | 1.18% | $114 |
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 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $119 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $122 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $125 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $129 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $133 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $136 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $138 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $141 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1988 to 1999: $100 is worth $141 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1988-to-1999/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1988 to 1999. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1988-to-1999/
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.