U.S. inflation · 1989–2015
$100 in 1989 has the same buying power as
$191
in 2015
| Cumulative price change | 91.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.52% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $191 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $91.14 |
| CPI in 1989 | 124 |
| CPI in 2015 | 237.017 |
| Inflation in 1989 | 4.82% |
| Inflation in 2015 | 0.12% |
| $100 in 1989 → 2015 | $191 |
| $100 in 2015 → 1989 | $52.32 |
Between 1989 and 2015, the Consumer Price Index went from 124 to 237.017. Cumulatively, prices increased 91.1%, which works out to an average of 2.52% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1989 bought what $0.52 buys in 2015.
| Amount in 1989 | Value in 2015 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.91 |
| $5.00 | $9.56 |
| $10.00 | $19.11 |
| $20.00 | $38.23 |
| $50.00 | $95.57 |
| $100 | $191 |
| $500 | $956 |
| $1,000 | $1,911 |
| $5,000 | $9,557 |
| $10,000 | $19,114 |
| $100,000 | $191,143 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,911,427 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1989 spending costs in 2015, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1989 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.52% | $191 |
| Medical care | 4.31% | $299 |
| Energy | 2.99% | $215 |
| Food | 2.65% | $198 |
| Housing | 2.57% | $194 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.45% | $188 |
| Transportation | 2.16% | $174 |
| Apparel | 0.23% | $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 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $188 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $191 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $191 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1989 to 2015: $100 is worth $191 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1989-to-2015/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1989 to 2015. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1989-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.