When did prices double after 1998?
By February 2026, prices were twice their 1998 average (CPI-U 163.0 → 326.0), 28 years later.
What $1 from 1998 is worth today
$1 in 1998 = $2.07 in September 2026
$1 from 1998$2.07in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1998+107%CPI 163.0 → 336.9
Average a year2.60%compounded since 1998
Inflation in 19981.6%December to December
Worth in September 2026$206.70
Prices changed106.7%
Average a year2.60%
$100.00 in 1998 buys what $206.70 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 163.008 · 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
1998 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1998 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.07 |
| $5.00 | $10.34 |
| $10.00 | $20.67 |
| $20.00 | $41.34 |
| $50.00 | $103.35 |
| $100.00 | $206.70 |
| $500.00 | $1,034 |
| $1,000 | $2,067 |
| $10,000 | $20,670 |
| $50,000 | $103,351 |
| $100,000 | $206,701 |
$100 from 1998, decade by decade
1998 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 1.6% in 1998 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #78 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 1998 level in February 2026.
- A dollar today buys what 48.4¢ bought in 1998.
CPI-U each month of 1998
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 161.600 |
| February | 161.900 |
| March | 162.200 |
| April | 162.500 |
| May | 162.800 |
| June | 163.000 |
| July | 163.200 |
| August | 163.400 |
| September | 163.600 |
| October | 164.000 |
| November | 164.000 |
| December | 163.900 |
| Year average | 163.008 |
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 1998 worth today?
$2.07 in September 2026. Prices have risen 106.7% since 1998, using the 1998 average CPI-U of 163.008 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1998?
Prices rose 1.6% from December 1997 to December 1998 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1998?
2.60% a year, compounded, from 1998 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 27 years.
How much is $100 from 1998 worth today?
$206.70. Multiply any 1998 amount by 2.067 to get today’s money.