U.S. inflation · 1994–2026
$100 in 1994 has the same buying power as
$224
in 2026
| Cumulative price change | 123.8% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.55% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $224 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $124 |
| CPI in 1994 | 148.2 |
| CPI in 2026 | 331.655 |
| Inflation in 1994 | 2.56% |
| Inflation in 2026 | 3.02% |
| $100 in 1994 → 2026 | $224 |
| $100 in 2026 → 1994 | $44.68 |
Uses a partial-year average for the current year; updates with each CPI release.
Between 1994 and 2026, the Consumer Price Index went from 148.2 to 331.655. Cumulatively, prices increased 123.8%, which works out to an average of 2.55% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1994 bought what $0.45 buys in 2026.
| Amount in 1994 | Value in 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.24 |
| $5.00 | $11.19 |
| $10.00 | $22.38 |
| $20.00 | $44.76 |
| $50.00 | $112 |
| $100 | $224 |
| $500 | $1,119 |
| $1,000 | $2,238 |
| $5,000 | $11,189 |
| $10,000 | $22,379 |
| $100,000 | $223,789 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,237,888 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1994 spending costs in 2026, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1994 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.55% | $224 |
| Energy | 3.50% | $301 |
| Medical care | 3.28% | $281 |
| Housing | 2.86% | $247 |
| Food | 2.79% | $241 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.41% | $214 |
| Transportation | 2.38% | $212 |
| Education & communication | 1.59% | $166 |
| Recreation | 1.39% | $156 |
| Apparel | 0.06% | $102 |
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1994 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $100 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $106 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $110 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $116 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $121 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $127 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $136 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $145 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $147 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $155 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $160 |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% | $162 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $169 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $175 |
| 2022 | 292.655 | 8.0% | $197 |
| 2024 | 313.689 | 2.9% | $212 |
| 2026 | 331.655 | 3.0% | $224 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1994 to 2026: $100 is worth $224 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1994-to-2026/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1994 to 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1994-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.