When did prices double after 1987?
By February 2012, prices were twice their 1987 average (CPI-U 113.6 → 227.3), 25 years later.
What $1 from 1987 is worth today
$1 in 1987 = $2.97 in September 2026
$1 from 1987$2.97in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1987+197%CPI 113.6 → 336.9
Average a year2.81%compounded since 1987
Inflation in 19874.4%December to December
Worth in September 2026$296.54
Prices changed196.5%
Average a year2.81%
$100.00 in 1987 buys what $296.54 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 113.625 · 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
1987 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1987 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.97 |
| $5.00 | $14.83 |
| $10.00 | $29.65 |
| $20.00 | $59.31 |
| $50.00 | $148.27 |
| $100.00 | $296.54 |
| $500.00 | $1,483 |
| $1,000 | $2,965 |
| $10,000 | $29,654 |
| $50,000 | $148,268 |
| $100,000 | $296,537 |
$100 from 1987, decade by decade
1987 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 4.4% in 1987 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #27 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 1987 level in February 2012.
- A dollar today buys what 33.7¢ bought in 1987.
CPI-U each month of 1987
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 111.200 |
| February | 111.600 |
| March | 112.100 |
| April | 112.700 |
| May | 113.100 |
| June | 113.500 |
| July | 113.800 |
| August | 114.400 |
| September | 115.000 |
| October | 115.300 |
| November | 115.400 |
| December | 115.400 |
| Year average | 113.625 |
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 1987 worth today?
$2.97 in September 2026. Prices have risen 196.5% since 1987, using the 1987 average CPI-U of 113.625 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1987?
Prices rose 4.4% from December 1986 to December 1987 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1987?
2.81% a year, compounded, from 1987 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 25 years.
How much is $100 from 1987 worth today?
$296.54. Multiply any 1987 amount by 2.965 to get today’s money.