U.S. inflation · 1989–1998
$100 in 1989 has the same buying power as
$131
in 1998
| Cumulative price change | 31.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.09% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $131 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $31.45 |
| CPI in 1989 | 124 |
| CPI in 1998 | 163 |
| Inflation in 1989 | 4.82% |
| Inflation in 1998 | 1.56% |
| $100 in 1989 → 1998 | $131 |
| $100 in 1998 → 1989 | $76.07 |
Between 1989 and 1998, the Consumer Price Index went from 124 to 163. Cumulatively, prices increased 31.5%, which works out to an average of 3.09% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1989 bought what $0.76 buys in 1998.
| Amount in 1989 | Value in 1998 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.31 |
| $5.00 | $6.57 |
| $10.00 | $13.15 |
| $20.00 | $26.29 |
| $50.00 | $65.73 |
| $100 | $131 |
| $500 | $657 |
| $1,000 | $1,315 |
| $5,000 | $6,573 |
| $10,000 | $13,145 |
| $100,000 | $131,452 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,314,516 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1989 spending costs in 1998, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1989 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.09% | $131 |
| Medical care | 5.52% | $162 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 3.34% | $134 |
| Housing | 2.99% | $130 |
| Food | 2.82% | $128 |
| Transportation | 2.43% | $124 |
| Apparel | 1.28% | $112 |
| Energy | 0.97% | $109 |
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 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $123 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $127 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $129 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $131 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1989 to 1998: $100 is worth $131 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1989-to-1998/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1989 to 1998. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1989-to-1998/
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.