When did prices double after 1988?
By April 2014, prices were twice their 1988 average (CPI-U 118.3 → 236.5), 26 years later.
What $1 from 1988 is worth today
$1 in 1988 = $2.85 in September 2026
$1 from 1988$2.85in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1988+185%CPI 118.3 → 336.9
Average a year2.78%compounded since 1988
Inflation in 19884.4%December to December
Worth in September 2026$284.92
Prices changed184.9%
Average a year2.78%
$100.00 in 1988 buys what $284.92 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 118.258 · 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
1988 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1988 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.85 |
| $5.00 | $14.25 |
| $10.00 | $28.49 |
| $20.00 | $56.98 |
| $50.00 | $142.46 |
| $100.00 | $284.92 |
| $500.00 | $1,425 |
| $1,000 | $2,849 |
| $10,000 | $28,492 |
| $50,000 | $142,459 |
| $100,000 | $284,919 |
$100 from 1988, decade by decade
1988 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 4.4% in 1988 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #28 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 1988 level in April 2014.
- A dollar today buys what 35.1¢ bought in 1988.
CPI-U each month of 1988
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 115.700 |
| February | 116.000 |
| March | 116.500 |
| April | 117.100 |
| May | 117.500 |
| June | 118.000 |
| July | 118.500 |
| August | 119.000 |
| September | 119.800 |
| October | 120.200 |
| November | 120.300 |
| December | 120.500 |
| Year average | 118.258 |
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 1988 worth today?
$2.85 in September 2026. Prices have risen 184.9% since 1988, using the 1988 average CPI-U of 118.258 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1988?
Prices rose 4.4% from December 1987 to December 1988 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1988?
2.78% a year, compounded, from 1988 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 25 years.
How much is $100 from 1988 worth today?
$284.92. Multiply any 1988 amount by 2.849 to get today’s money.