U.S. inflation · 1992–2026
$100 in 1992 has the same buying power as
$236
in 2026
| Cumulative price change | 136.4% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.56% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $236 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $136 |
| CPI in 1992 | 140.3 |
| CPI in 2026 | 331.655 |
| Inflation in 1992 | 3.01% |
| Inflation in 2026 | 3.02% |
| $100 in 1992 → 2026 | $236 |
| $100 in 2026 → 1992 | $42.30 |
Uses a partial-year average for the current year; updates with each CPI release.
Between 1992 and 2026, the Consumer Price Index went from 140.3 to 331.655. Cumulatively, prices increased 136.4%, which works out to an average of 2.56% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1992 bought what $0.42 buys in 2026.
| Amount in 1992 | Value in 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.36 |
| $5.00 | $11.82 |
| $10.00 | $23.64 |
| $20.00 | $47.28 |
| $50.00 | $118 |
| $100 | $236 |
| $500 | $1,182 |
| $1,000 | $2,364 |
| $5,000 | $11,819 |
| $10,000 | $23,639 |
| $100,000 | $236,390 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,363,899 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1992 spending costs in 2026, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1992 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.56% | $236 |
| Medical care | 3.40% | $312 |
| Energy | 3.34% | $306 |
| Housing | 2.85% | $260 |
| Food | 2.76% | $253 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.45% | $228 |
| Transportation | 2.42% | $226 |
| Apparel | 0.09% | $103 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1992: recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1992 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $100 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $106 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $112 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $116 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $123 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $128 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $135 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $144 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $153 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $155 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $164 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $169 |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% | $171 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $179 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $184 |
| 2022 | 292.655 | 8.0% | $209 |
| 2024 | 313.689 | 2.9% | $224 |
| 2026 | 331.655 | 3.0% | $236 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1992 to 2026: $100 is worth $236 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1992-to-2026/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1992 to 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1992-to-2026/
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.