U.S. inflation · 1991–2004
$100 in 1991 has the same buying power as
$139
in 2004
| Cumulative price change | 38.7% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.55% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $139 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $38.69 |
| CPI in 1991 | 136.2 |
| CPI in 2004 | 188.9 |
| Inflation in 1991 | 4.21% |
| Inflation in 2004 | 2.66% |
| $100 in 1991 → 2004 | $139 |
| $100 in 2004 → 1991 | $72.10 |
Between 1991 and 2004, the Consumer Price Index went from 136.2 to 188.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 38.7%, which works out to an average of 2.55% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1991 bought what $0.72 buys in 2004.
| Amount in 1991 | Value in 2004 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.39 |
| $5.00 | $6.93 |
| $10.00 | $13.87 |
| $20.00 | $27.74 |
| $50.00 | $69.35 |
| $100 | $139 |
| $500 | $693 |
| $1,000 | $1,387 |
| $5,000 | $6,935 |
| $10,000 | $13,869 |
| $100,000 | $138,693 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,386,931 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1991 spending costs in 2004, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1991 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.55% | $139 |
| Medical care | 4.41% | $175 |
| Energy | 3.05% | $148 |
| Housing | 2.73% | $142 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.53% | $138 |
| Food | 2.43% | $137 |
| Transportation | 2.14% | $132 |
| Apparel | -0.51% | $93.55 |
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 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $135 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $139 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1991 to 2004: $100 is worth $139 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1991-to-2004/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1991 to 2004. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1991-to-2004/
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.