U.S. inflation · 1989–2012
$100 in 1989 has the same buying power as
$185
in 2012
| Cumulative price change | 85.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.71% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $185 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $85.16 |
| CPI in 1989 | 124 |
| CPI in 2012 | 229.594 |
| Inflation in 1989 | 4.82% |
| Inflation in 2012 | 2.07% |
| $100 in 1989 → 2012 | $185 |
| $100 in 2012 → 1989 | $54.01 |
Between 1989 and 2012, the Consumer Price Index went from 124 to 229.594. Cumulatively, prices increased 85.2%, which works out to an average of 2.71% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1989 bought what $0.54 buys in 2012.
| Amount in 1989 | Value in 2012 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.85 |
| $5.00 | $9.26 |
| $10.00 | $18.52 |
| $20.00 | $37.03 |
| $50.00 | $92.58 |
| $100 | $185 |
| $500 | $926 |
| $1,000 | $1,852 |
| $5,000 | $9,258 |
| $10,000 | $18,516 |
| $100,000 | $185,156 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,851,565 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1989 spending costs in 2012, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1989 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.71% | $185 |
| Medical care | 4.54% | $278 |
| Energy | 4.26% | $261 |
| Transportation | 2.84% | $190 |
| Food | 2.76% | $187 |
| Housing | 2.61% | $181 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.54% | $178 |
| Apparel | 0.27% | $106 |
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 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $134 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $139 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $143 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $145 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $148 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $152 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $158 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $163 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $167 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $174 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $173 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $176 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $181 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $185 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1989 to 2012: $100 is worth $185 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1989-to-2012/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1989 to 2012. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1989-to-2012/
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.