U.S. inflation · 1991–2021
$100 in 1991 has the same buying power as
$199
in 2021
| Cumulative price change | 99.0% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.32% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $199 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $98.95 |
| CPI in 1991 | 136.2 |
| CPI in 2021 | 270.97 |
| Inflation in 1991 | 4.21% |
| Inflation in 2021 | 4.70% |
| $100 in 1991 → 2021 | $199 |
| $100 in 2021 → 1991 | $50.26 |
Between 1991 and 2021, the Consumer Price Index went from 136.2 to 270.97. Cumulatively, prices increased 99.0%, which works out to an average of 2.32% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1991 bought what $0.50 buys in 2021.
| Amount in 1991 | Value in 2021 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.99 |
| $5.00 | $9.95 |
| $10.00 | $19.90 |
| $20.00 | $39.79 |
| $50.00 | $99.48 |
| $100 | $199 |
| $500 | $995 |
| $1,000 | $1,990 |
| $5,000 | $9,948 |
| $10,000 | $19,895 |
| $100,000 | $198,950 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,989,501 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1991 spending costs in 2021, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1991 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.32% | $199 |
| Medical care | 3.69% | $297 |
| Energy | 2.85% | $233 |
| Housing | 2.51% | $210 |
| Food | 2.40% | $204 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.25% | $195 |
| Transportation | 2.10% | $186 |
| Apparel | -0.21% | $94.01 |
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 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $171 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $174 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $174 |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% | $176 |
| 2017 | 245.12 | 2.1% | $180 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $184 |
| 2019 | 255.657 | 1.8% | $188 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $190 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $199 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1991 to 2021: $100 is worth $199 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1991-to-2021/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1991 to 2021. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1991-to-2021/
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.