U.S. inflation · 1989–2026
$100 in 1989 has the same buying power as
$267
in 2026
| Cumulative price change | 166.7% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.69% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $267 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $167 |
| CPI in 1989 | 124 |
| CPI in 2026 | 330.724 |
| Inflation in 1989 | 4.82% |
| Inflation in 2026 | 2.73% |
| $100 in 1989 → 2026 | $267 |
| $100 in 2026 → 1989 | $37.49 |
Uses a partial-year average for the current year; updates with each CPI release.
Between 1989 and 2026, the Consumer Price Index went from 124 to 330.724. Cumulatively, prices increased 166.7%, which works out to an average of 2.69% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1989 bought what $0.37 buys in 2026.
| Amount in 1989 | Value in 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.67 |
| $5.00 | $13.34 |
| $10.00 | $26.67 |
| $20.00 | $53.34 |
| $50.00 | $133 |
| $100 | $267 |
| $500 | $1,334 |
| $1,000 | $2,667 |
| $5,000 | $13,336 |
| $10,000 | $26,671 |
| $100,000 | $266,713 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,667,129 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1989 spending costs in 2026, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1989 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.69% | $267 |
| Medical care | 3.79% | $397 |
| Energy | 3.28% | $330 |
| Housing | 2.91% | $289 |
| Food | 2.80% | $278 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.61% | $260 |
| Transportation | 2.49% | $249 |
| Apparel | 0.37% | $115 |
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 |
| 2023 | 304.702 | 4.1% | $246 |
| 2025 | 321.943 | 2.6% | $260 |
| 2026 | 330.724 | 2.7% | $267 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1989 to 2026: $100 is worth $267 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1989-to-2026/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1989 to 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1989-to-2026/
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.