U.S. inflation · 1998–2026
$100 in 1998 has the same buying power as
$203
in 2026
| Cumulative price change | 103.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.57% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $203 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $103 |
| CPI in 1998 | 163 |
| CPI in 2026 | 331.655 |
| Inflation in 1998 | 1.56% |
| Inflation in 2026 | 3.02% |
| $100 in 1998 → 2026 | $203 |
| $100 in 2026 → 1998 | $49.15 |
Uses a partial-year average for the current year; updates with each CPI release.
Between 1998 and 2026, the Consumer Price Index went from 163 to 331.655. Cumulatively, prices increased 103.5%, which works out to an average of 2.57% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1998 bought what $0.49 buys in 2026.
| Amount in 1998 | Value in 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.03 |
| $5.00 | $10.17 |
| $10.00 | $20.35 |
| $20.00 | $40.69 |
| $50.00 | $102 |
| $100 | $203 |
| $500 | $1,017 |
| $1,000 | $2,035 |
| $5,000 | $10,173 |
| $10,000 | $20,347 |
| $100,000 | $203,469 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,034,693 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1998 spending costs in 2026, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1998 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.57% | $203 |
| Energy | 4.08% | $306 |
| Medical care | 3.25% | $245 |
| Housing | 2.90% | $223 |
| Food | 2.80% | $217 |
| Transportation | 2.53% | $201 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.39% | $194 |
| Education & communication | 1.38% | $147 |
| Recreation | 1.28% | $143 |
| Apparel | 0.08% | $102 |
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1998 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $100 |
| 1999 | 166.6 | 2.2% | $102 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $106 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $109 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $110 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $113 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $116 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $120 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $124 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $127 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $132 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $132 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $134 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $138 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $141 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $143 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $145 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $145 |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% | $147 |
| 2017 | 245.12 | 2.1% | $150 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $154 |
| 2019 | 255.657 | 1.8% | $157 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $159 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $166 |
| 2022 | 292.655 | 8.0% | $180 |
| 2023 | 304.702 | 4.1% | $187 |
| 2024 | 313.689 | 2.9% | $192 |
| 2025 | 321.943 | 2.6% | $198 |
| 2026 | 331.655 | 3.0% | $203 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1998 to 2026: $100 is worth $203 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1998-to-2026/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1998 to 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1998-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.