When did prices double after 1991?
By July 2021, prices were twice their 1991 average (CPI-U 136.2 → 272.4), 30 years later.
What $1 from 1991 is worth today
$1 in 1991 = $2.47 in September 2026
$1 from 1991$2.47in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1991+147%CPI 136.2 → 336.9
Average a year2.60%compounded since 1991
Inflation in 19913.1%December to December
Worth in September 2026$247.40
Prices changed147.4%
Average a year2.60%
$100.00 in 1991 buys what $247.40 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 136.192 · 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
1991 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1991 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.47 |
| $5.00 | $12.37 |
| $10.00 | $24.74 |
| $20.00 | $49.48 |
| $50.00 | $123.70 |
| $100.00 | $247.40 |
| $500.00 | $1,237 |
| $1,000 | $2,474 |
| $10,000 | $24,740 |
| $50,000 | $123,701 |
| $100,000 | $247,401 |
$100 from 1991, decade by decade
1991 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 3.1% in 1991 (December to December), about the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #43 of 112 from highest to lowest.
- The 1990s averaged 2.9% a year; the decade’s highest was 1990 at 6.1%.
- Prices first stood at twice their 1991 level in July 2021.
- A dollar today buys what 40.4¢ bought in 1991.
CPI-U each month of 1991
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 134.600 |
| February | 134.800 |
| March | 135.000 |
| April | 135.200 |
| May | 135.600 |
| June | 136.000 |
| July | 136.200 |
| August | 136.600 |
| September | 137.200 |
| October | 137.400 |
| November | 137.800 |
| December | 137.900 |
| Year average | 136.192 |
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 1991 worth today?
$2.47 in September 2026. Prices have risen 147.4% since 1991, using the 1991 average CPI-U of 136.192 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1991?
Prices rose 3.1% from December 1990 to December 1991 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1991?
2.60% a year, compounded, from 1991 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 27 years.
How much is $100 from 1991 worth today?
$247.40. Multiply any 1991 amount by 2.474 to get today’s money.