U.S. inflation · 1988–2026
$100 in 1988 has the same buying power as
$280
in 2026
| Cumulative price change | 179.6% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.74% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $280 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $180 |
| CPI in 1988 | 118.3 |
| CPI in 2026 | 330.724 |
| Inflation in 1988 | 4.14% |
| Inflation in 2026 | 2.73% |
| $100 in 1988 → 2026 | $280 |
| $100 in 2026 → 1988 | $35.77 |
Uses a partial-year average for the current year; updates with each CPI release.
Between 1988 and 2026, the Consumer Price Index went from 118.3 to 330.724. Cumulatively, prices increased 179.6%, which works out to an average of 2.74% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1988 bought what $0.36 buys in 2026.
| Amount in 1988 | Value in 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.80 |
| $5.00 | $13.98 |
| $10.00 | $27.96 |
| $20.00 | $55.91 |
| $50.00 | $140 |
| $100 | $280 |
| $500 | $1,398 |
| $1,000 | $2,796 |
| $5,000 | $13,978 |
| $10,000 | $27,956 |
| $100,000 | $279,564 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,795,638 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1988 spending costs in 2026, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1988 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.74% | $280 |
| Medical care | 3.90% | $427 |
| Energy | 3.34% | $348 |
| Housing | 2.94% | $300 |
| Food | 2.88% | $294 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.66% | $271 |
| Transportation | 2.56% | $261 |
| Apparel | 0.44% | $118 |
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 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $110 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $119 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $125 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $133 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $138 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $146 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $152 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $160 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $170 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $182 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $184 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $194 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $200 |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% | $203 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $212 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $219 |
| 2022 | 292.655 | 8.0% | $247 |
| 2024 | 313.689 | 2.9% | $265 |
| 2026 | 330.724 | 2.7% | $280 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1988 to 2026: $100 is worth $280 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1988-to-2026/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1988 to 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1988-to-2026/
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.