U.S. inflation · 1993–2026
$100 in 1993 has the same buying power as
$230
in 2026
| Cumulative price change | 129.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.55% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $230 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $130 |
| CPI in 1993 | 144.5 |
| CPI in 2026 | 331.655 |
| Inflation in 1993 | 2.99% |
| Inflation in 2026 | 3.02% |
| $100 in 1993 → 2026 | $230 |
| $100 in 2026 → 1993 | $43.57 |
Uses a partial-year average for the current year; updates with each CPI release.
Between 1993 and 2026, the Consumer Price Index went from 144.5 to 331.655. Cumulatively, prices increased 129.5%, which works out to an average of 2.55% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1993 bought what $0.44 buys in 2026.
| Amount in 1993 | Value in 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.30 |
| $5.00 | $11.48 |
| $10.00 | $22.95 |
| $20.00 | $45.90 |
| $50.00 | $115 |
| $100 | $230 |
| $500 | $1,148 |
| $1,000 | $2,295 |
| $5,000 | $11,476 |
| $10,000 | $22,952 |
| $100,000 | $229,519 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,295,190 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1993 spending costs in 2026, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1993 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.55% | $230 |
| Energy | 3.41% | $302 |
| Medical care | 3.32% | $294 |
| Housing | 2.85% | $253 |
| Food | 2.78% | $247 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.42% | $220 |
| Transportation | 2.40% | $219 |
| Education & communication | 1.66% | $172 |
| Recreation | 1.42% | $159 |
| Apparel | 0.05% | $102 |
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1993 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $100 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $105 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $111 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $115 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $123 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $127 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $135 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $143 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $148 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $156 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $161 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $164 |
| 2017 | 245.12 | 2.1% | $170 |
| 2019 | 255.657 | 1.8% | $177 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $188 |
| 2023 | 304.702 | 4.1% | $211 |
| 2025 | 321.943 | 2.6% | $223 |
| 2026 | 331.655 | 3.0% | $230 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1993 to 2026: $100 is worth $230 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1993-to-2026/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1993 to 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1993-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.