U.S. inflation · 1991–1997
$100 in 1991 has the same buying power as
$118
in 1997
| Cumulative price change | 17.8% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.77% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $118 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $17.84 |
| CPI in 1991 | 136.2 |
| CPI in 1997 | 160.5 |
| Inflation in 1991 | 4.21% |
| Inflation in 1997 | 2.29% |
| $100 in 1991 → 1997 | $118 |
| $100 in 1997 → 1991 | $84.86 |
Between 1991 and 1997, the Consumer Price Index went from 136.2 to 160.5. Cumulatively, prices increased 17.8%, which works out to an average of 2.77% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1991 bought what $0.85 buys in 1997.
| Amount in 1991 | Value in 1997 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.18 |
| $5.00 | $5.89 |
| $10.00 | $11.78 |
| $20.00 | $23.57 |
| $50.00 | $58.92 |
| $100 | $118 |
| $500 | $589 |
| $1,000 | $1,178 |
| $5,000 | $5,892 |
| $10,000 | $11,784 |
| $100,000 | $117,841 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,178,414 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1991 spending costs in 1997, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1991 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.77% | $118 |
| Medical care | 4.81% | $133 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.98% | $119 |
| Housing | 2.70% | $117 |
| Transportation | 2.59% | $117 |
| Food | 2.42% | $115 |
| Energy | 1.41% | $109 |
| Apparel | 0.54% | $103 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1991: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1991 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $100 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $103 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $106 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $109 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $112 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $115 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $118 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1991 to 1997: $100 is worth $118 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1991-to-1997/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1991 to 1997. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1991-to-1997/
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.