U.S. inflation · 1991–1998
$100 in 1991 has the same buying power as
$120
in 1998
| Cumulative price change | 19.7% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.60% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $120 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $19.68 |
| CPI in 1991 | 136.2 |
| CPI in 1998 | 163 |
| Inflation in 1991 | 4.21% |
| Inflation in 1998 | 1.56% |
| $100 in 1991 → 1998 | $120 |
| $100 in 1998 → 1991 | $83.56 |
Between 1991 and 1998, the Consumer Price Index went from 136.2 to 163. Cumulatively, prices increased 19.7%, which works out to an average of 2.60% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1991 bought what $0.84 buys in 1998.
| Amount in 1991 | Value in 1998 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.20 |
| $5.00 | $5.98 |
| $10.00 | $11.97 |
| $20.00 | $23.94 |
| $50.00 | $59.84 |
| $100 | $120 |
| $500 | $598 |
| $1,000 | $1,197 |
| $5,000 | $5,984 |
| $10,000 | $11,968 |
| $100,000 | $119,677 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,196,769 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1991 spending costs in 1998, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1991 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.60% | $120 |
| Medical care | 4.58% | $137 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.88% | $122 |
| Housing | 2.65% | $120 |
| Food | 2.38% | $118 |
| Transportation | 1.94% | $114 |
| Apparel | 0.47% | $103 |
| Energy | 0.06% | $100 |
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 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $120 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1991 to 1998: $100 is worth $120 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1991-to-1998/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1991 to 1998. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1991-to-1998/
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.