When did prices double after 1985?
By May 2008, prices were twice their 1985 average (CPI-U 107.6 → 215.1), 23 years later. They had tripled by July 2025.
What $1 from 1985 is worth today
$1 in 1985 = $3.13 in September 2026
$1 from 1985$3.13in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1985+213%CPI 107.6 → 336.9
Average a year2.81%compounded since 1985
Inflation in 19853.8%December to December
Worth in September 2026$313.24
Prices changed213.2%
Average a year2.81%
$100.00 in 1985 buys what $313.24 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 107.567 · a whole year uses its average CPI
BLS CPI-U, U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted, through September 2026 (3.7% over 12 months). Source
1985 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1985 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $3.13 |
| $5.00 | $15.66 |
| $10.00 | $31.32 |
| $20.00 | $62.65 |
| $50.00 | $156.62 |
| $100.00 | $313.24 |
| $500.00 | $1,566 |
| $1,000 | $3,132 |
| $10,000 | $31,324 |
| $50,000 | $156,619 |
| $100,000 | $313,238 |
$100 from 1985, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1995 | $141.66 | 152.4 |
| 2005 | $181.55 | 195.3 |
| 2015 | $220.34 | 237.0 |
| 2025 | $299.30 | 321.9 |
| September 2026 | $313.24 | 336.9 |
1985 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 3.8% in 1985 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #32 of 112 from highest to lowest.
- The 1980s averaged 5.1% a year; the decade’s highest was 1980 at 12.5%.
- Prices first stood at twice their 1985 level in May 2008, and three times in July 2025.
- A dollar today buys what 31.9¢ bought in 1985.
CPI-U each month of 1985
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 105.500 |
| February | 106.000 |
| March | 106.400 |
| April | 106.900 |
| May | 107.300 |
| June | 107.600 |
| July | 107.800 |
| August | 108.000 |
| September | 108.300 |
| October | 108.700 |
| November | 109.000 |
| December | 109.300 |
| Year average | 107.567 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U, U.S. city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted (1982-84 = 100). Source
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1985 worth today?
$3.13 in September 2026. Prices have risen 213.2% since 1985, using the 1985 average CPI-U of 107.567 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1985?
Prices rose 3.8% from December 1984 to December 1985 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1985?
2.81% a year, compounded, from 1985 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 25 years.
How much is $100 from 1985 worth today?
$313.24. Multiply any 1985 amount by 3.132 to get today’s money.