U.S. inflation · 1991–2002
$100 in 1991 has the same buying power as
$132
in 2002
| Cumulative price change | 32.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.56% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $132 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $32.09 |
| CPI in 1991 | 136.2 |
| CPI in 2002 | 179.9 |
| Inflation in 1991 | 4.21% |
| Inflation in 2002 | 1.58% |
| $100 in 1991 → 2002 | $132 |
| $100 in 2002 → 1991 | $75.71 |
Between 1991 and 2002, the Consumer Price Index went from 136.2 to 179.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 32.1%, which works out to an average of 2.56% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1991 bought what $0.76 buys in 2002.
| Amount in 1991 | Value in 2002 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.32 |
| $5.00 | $6.60 |
| $10.00 | $13.21 |
| $20.00 | $26.42 |
| $50.00 | $66.04 |
| $100 | $132 |
| $500 | $660 |
| $1,000 | $1,321 |
| $5,000 | $6,604 |
| $10,000 | $13,209 |
| $100,000 | $132,085 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,320,852 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1991 spending costs in 2002, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1991 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.56% | $132 |
| Medical care | 4.45% | $161 |
| Housing | 2.76% | $135 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.70% | $134 |
| Food | 2.36% | $129 |
| Transportation | 1.94% | $124 |
| Energy | 1.57% | $119 |
| Apparel | -0.34% | $96.35 |
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 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $122 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $126 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $130 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $132 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1991 to 2002: $100 is worth $132 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1991-to-2002/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1991 to 2002. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1991-to-2002/
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.