U.S. inflation · 1988–2015
$100 in 1988 has the same buying power as
$200
in 2015
| Cumulative price change | 100.4% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.61% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $200 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $100 |
| CPI in 1988 | 118.3 |
| CPI in 2015 | 237.017 |
| Inflation in 1988 | 4.14% |
| Inflation in 2015 | 0.12% |
| $100 in 1988 → 2015 | $200 |
| $100 in 2015 → 1988 | $49.91 |
Between 1988 and 2015, the Consumer Price Index went from 118.3 to 237.017. Cumulatively, prices increased 100.4%, which works out to an average of 2.61% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1988 bought what $0.50 buys in 2015.
| Amount in 1988 | Value in 2015 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.00 |
| $5.00 | $10.02 |
| $10.00 | $20.04 |
| $20.00 | $40.07 |
| $50.00 | $100 |
| $100 | $200 |
| $500 | $1,002 |
| $1,000 | $2,004 |
| $5,000 | $10,018 |
| $10,000 | $20,035 |
| $100,000 | $200,352 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,003,525 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1988 spending costs in 2015, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1988 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.61% | $200 |
| Medical care | 4.43% | $322 |
| Energy | 3.09% | $227 |
| Food | 2.77% | $209 |
| Housing | 2.62% | $201 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.53% | $196 |
| Transportation | 2.27% | $183 |
| Apparel | 0.32% | $109 |
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 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $146 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $150 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $152 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $156 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $160 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $165 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $170 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $175 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $182 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $181 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $184 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $190 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $194 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $197 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $200 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $200 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1988 to 2015: $100 is worth $200 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1988-to-2015/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1988 to 2015. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1988-to-2015/
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.