U.S. inflation · 1991–2012
$100 in 1991 has the same buying power as
$169
in 2012
| Cumulative price change | 68.6% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.52% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $169 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $68.57 |
| CPI in 1991 | 136.2 |
| CPI in 2012 | 229.594 |
| Inflation in 1991 | 4.21% |
| Inflation in 2012 | 2.07% |
| $100 in 1991 → 2012 | $169 |
| $100 in 2012 → 1991 | $59.32 |
Between 1991 and 2012, the Consumer Price Index went from 136.2 to 229.594. Cumulatively, prices increased 68.6%, which works out to an average of 2.52% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1991 bought what $0.59 buys in 2012.
| Amount in 1991 | Value in 2012 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.69 |
| $5.00 | $8.43 |
| $10.00 | $16.86 |
| $20.00 | $33.71 |
| $50.00 | $84.29 |
| $100 | $169 |
| $500 | $843 |
| $1,000 | $1,686 |
| $5,000 | $8,429 |
| $10,000 | $16,857 |
| $100,000 | $168,571 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,685,712 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1991 spending costs in 2012, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1991 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.52% | $169 |
| Energy | 4.26% | $240 |
| Medical care | 4.14% | $234 |
| Transportation | 2.72% | $176 |
| Food | 2.60% | $172 |
| Housing | 2.46% | $167 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.31% | $162 |
| Apparel | -0.09% | $98.11 |
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 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $143 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $148 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $152 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $158 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $158 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $160 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $165 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $169 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1991 to 2012: $100 is worth $169 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1991-to-2012/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1991 to 2012. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1991-to-2012/
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.