U.S. inflation · 1989–1994
$100 in 1989 has the same buying power as
$120
in 1994
| Cumulative price change | 19.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.63% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $120 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $19.52 |
| CPI in 1989 | 124 |
| CPI in 1994 | 148.2 |
| Inflation in 1989 | 4.82% |
| Inflation in 1994 | 2.56% |
| $100 in 1989 → 1994 | $120 |
| $100 in 1994 → 1989 | $83.67 |
Between 1989 and 1994, the Consumer Price Index went from 124 to 148.2. Cumulatively, prices increased 19.5%, which works out to an average of 3.63% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1989 bought what $0.84 buys in 1994.
| Amount in 1989 | Value in 1994 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.20 |
| $5.00 | $5.98 |
| $10.00 | $11.95 |
| $20.00 | $23.90 |
| $50.00 | $59.76 |
| $100 | $120 |
| $500 | $598 |
| $1,000 | $1,195 |
| $5,000 | $5,976 |
| $10,000 | $11,952 |
| $100,000 | $119,516 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,195,161 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1989 spending costs in 1994, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1989 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.63% | $120 |
| Medical care | 7.16% | $141 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.94% | $121 |
| Housing | 3.32% | $118 |
| Transportation | 3.31% | $118 |
| Food | 2.90% | $115 |
| Apparel | 2.38% | $112 |
| Energy | 2.09% | $111 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1989: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1989 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $100 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $105 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $110 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $113 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $117 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $120 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1989 to 1994: $100 is worth $120 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1989-to-1994/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1989 to 1994. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1989-to-1994/
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.