U.S. inflation · 1989–2021
$100 in 1989 has the same buying power as
$219
in 2021
| Cumulative price change | 118.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.47% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $219 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $119 |
| CPI in 1989 | 124 |
| CPI in 2021 | 270.97 |
| Inflation in 1989 | 4.82% |
| Inflation in 2021 | 4.70% |
| $100 in 1989 → 2021 | $219 |
| $100 in 2021 → 1989 | $45.76 |
Between 1989 and 2021, the Consumer Price Index went from 124 to 270.97. Cumulatively, prices increased 118.5%, which works out to an average of 2.47% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1989 bought what $0.46 buys in 2021.
| Amount in 1989 | Value in 2021 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.19 |
| $5.00 | $10.93 |
| $10.00 | $21.85 |
| $20.00 | $43.70 |
| $50.00 | $109 |
| $100 | $219 |
| $500 | $1,093 |
| $1,000 | $2,185 |
| $5,000 | $10,926 |
| $10,000 | $21,852 |
| $100,000 | $218,524 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,185,242 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1989 spending costs in 2021, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1989 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.47% | $219 |
| Medical care | 4.01% | $352 |
| Energy | 2.94% | $253 |
| Housing | 2.61% | $228 |
| Food | 2.52% | $222 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.42% | $215 |
| Transportation | 2.22% | $202 |
| Apparel | 0.06% | $102 |
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 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $110 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $117 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $123 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $129 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $134 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $143 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $148 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $158 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $167 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $173 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $181 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $188 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $191 |
| 2017 | 245.12 | 2.1% | $198 |
| 2019 | 255.657 | 1.8% | $206 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $219 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1989 to 2021: $100 is worth $219 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1989-to-2021/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1989 to 2021. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1989-to-2021/
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.