When did prices double after 1989?
By February 2018, prices were twice their 1989 average (CPI-U 124.0 → 247.9), 29 years later.
What $1 from 1989 is worth today
$1 in 1989 = $2.72 in September 2026
$1 from 1989$2.72in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1989+172%CPI 124.0 → 336.9
Average a year2.72%compounded since 1989
Inflation in 19894.6%December to December
Worth in September 2026$271.80
Prices changed171.8%
Average a year2.72%
$100.00 in 1989 buys what $271.80 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 123.967 · 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
1989 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1989 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.72 |
| $5.00 | $13.59 |
| $10.00 | $27.18 |
| $20.00 | $54.36 |
| $50.00 | $135.90 |
| $100.00 | $271.80 |
| $500.00 | $1,359 |
| $1,000 | $2,718 |
| $10,000 | $27,180 |
| $50,000 | $135,899 |
| $100,000 | $271,799 |
$100 from 1989, decade by decade
1989 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 4.6% in 1989 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #26 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 1989 level in February 2018.
- A dollar today buys what 36.8¢ bought in 1989.
CPI-U each month of 1989
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 121.100 |
| February | 121.600 |
| March | 122.300 |
| April | 123.100 |
| May | 123.800 |
| June | 124.100 |
| July | 124.400 |
| August | 124.600 |
| September | 125.000 |
| October | 125.600 |
| November | 125.900 |
| December | 126.100 |
| Year average | 123.967 |
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 1989 worth today?
$2.72 in September 2026. Prices have risen 171.8% since 1989, using the 1989 average CPI-U of 123.967 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1989?
Prices rose 4.6% from December 1988 to December 1989 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1989?
2.72% a year, compounded, from 1989 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 26 years.
How much is $100 from 1989 worth today?
$271.80. Multiply any 1989 amount by 2.718 to get today’s money.