When did prices double after 1990?
By January 2021, prices were twice their 1990 average (CPI-U 130.7 → 261.3), 31 years later.
What $1 from 1990 is worth today
$1 in 1990 = $2.58 in September 2026
$1 from 1990$2.58in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1990+158%CPI 130.7 → 336.9
Average a year2.65%compounded since 1990
Inflation in 19906.1%December to December
Worth in September 2026$257.88
Prices changed157.9%
Average a year2.65%
$100.00 in 1990 buys what $257.88 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 130.658 · 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
1990 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1990 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.58 |
| $5.00 | $12.89 |
| $10.00 | $25.79 |
| $20.00 | $51.58 |
| $50.00 | $128.94 |
| $100.00 | $257.88 |
| $500.00 | $1,289 |
| $1,000 | $2,579 |
| $10,000 | $25,788 |
| $50,000 | $128,939 |
| $100,000 | $257,879 |
$100 from 1990, decade by decade
1990 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 6.1% in 1990 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #20 of 112 from highest to lowest.
- The 1990s averaged 2.9% a year, and 1990 was the decade’s highest.
- Prices first stood at twice their 1990 level in January 2021.
- A dollar today buys what 38.8¢ bought in 1990.
CPI-U each month of 1990
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 127.400 |
| February | 128.000 |
| March | 128.700 |
| April | 128.900 |
| May | 129.200 |
| June | 129.900 |
| July | 130.400 |
| August | 131.600 |
| September | 132.700 |
| October | 133.500 |
| November | 133.800 |
| December | 133.800 |
| Year average | 130.658 |
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 1990 worth today?
$2.58 in September 2026. Prices have risen 157.9% since 1990, using the 1990 average CPI-U of 130.658 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1990?
Prices rose 6.1% from December 1989 to December 1990 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1990?
2.65% a year, compounded, from 1990 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 27 years.
How much is $100 from 1990 worth today?
$257.88. Multiply any 1990 amount by 2.579 to get today’s money.