GeraCash / US Inflation Calculator / 1988
What is $100 in 1988 worth today?
$100 in 1988 has the same buying power as $272.24 in 2025 — a 172.2% increase, or about 2.7% per year on average. Figures come from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index (CPI-U, all items). Change the amount or year below.
What is $100 in 1988 worth today?
$100 in 1988 has the same buying power as $272.24 in 2025 — US consumer prices rose 172.2% over 37 years (about 2.7% per year on average), measured by the BLS Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, all items, 1982-84=100; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, public domain).
$100 in 1988 →
$272.24
in 2025 money
Total price change
+172.2%
over 37 years
Average annual inflation
2.7%
compound, per year
Value of the dollar from 1988
Pre-set to 1988 → 2025. Change the amount or either year (1986–2025) to recalculate with the real BLS CPI-U index.
US dollars
1986–2025
1986–2025
$100.00 in 1988 is worth
$272.24
in 2025 money
Total price change
+172.2%
over 37 years — prices rose
Average annual inflation
2.7%
compound, per year
This converts nominal US dollars between years using the BLS Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, all items). It reflects average US consumer-price inflation and is not financial advice — your personal cost of living depends on what you buy.
How $100 from 1988 grew over time
| Year | Value of $100 from 1988 | Cumulative change |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | $122.15 | 22.2% |
| 1998 | $137.84 | 37.8% |
| 2008 | $182.06 | 82.1% |
| 2025 | $272.24 | 172.2% |
Value of the dollar since 1988: FAQ
- How much is $100 from 1988 worth in 2025?
- $100 in 1988 is worth $272.24 in 2025 on the BLS CPI-U index — a total price increase of 172.2% over 37 years. The calculation is $100 × index(2025) ÷ index(1988) = $100 × 321.9 ÷ 118.3.
- What was the average inflation rate from 1988 to 2025?
- US consumer prices rose about 2.7% per year on average between 1988 and 2025, compounding to a total increase of 172.2%. This is the annualised change in the BLS CPI-U annual-average index (all items, 1982-84=100).
- Why has the dollar lost value since 1988?
- Because of sustained inflation: when average prices rise year after year, each dollar buys fewer goods and services. To match the buying power of $1 in 1988 you would need $2.72 in 2025. Inflation since 1988 reflects the cumulative change in the BLS CPI-U, the U.S. headline price index.
- Where does this figure come from?
- From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U series (CUUR0000SA0, all items, U.S. city average, 1982-84=100), using published annual-average index values. BLS data is a U.S. Government work in the public domain. No figures are estimated — the value is computed directly from the index ratio between 1988 and 2025.
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Data source
Contains public sector information published by U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics and licensed under the U.S. Government work — public domain. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) (2026 MAY).
BLS series: CPI-U, U.S. city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted (CUUR0000SA0), 1982-84=100; annual average (M13). Retrieved 2026-06-27. Value computed by Gera as $100 × index(2025) ÷ index(1988) — no figures are estimated.