$100 in 1988 has the same buying power as about $277.26 in 2026. Prices rose 177.3% over 38 years, an average of 2.72% per year, and the dollar lost about 64% of its 1988 purchasing power.
$100 in 1988 equals
$277.26
in 2026 dollars
Cumulative inflation
177.3%
1988 to 2026
Inflation rate in 1988
4.1%
CPI 118.3 vs 1987
CPI-U annual average: 118.3 in 1988, 328 in 2026 (1982–84 = 100). Multiplier: 2.773. Calculate a different amount or end year.
1988 dollars in 2026 dollars
| Amount in 1988 | Value in 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1 | $2.77 |
| $5 | $13.86 |
| $10 | $27.73 |
| $20 | $55.45 |
| $50 | $138.63 |
| $100 | $277.26 |
| $500 | $1,386 |
| $1,000 | $2,773 |
| $10,000 | $27,726 |
| $100,000 | $277,261 |
Value of $100 from 1988, year by year
What $100 from 1988 was worth in each later year, with that year's inflation rate.
| Year | $100 in 1988 equals | Inflation rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | $100 | 4.1% |
| 1989 | $104.82 | 4.8% |
| 1990 | $110.48 | 5.4% |
| 1991 | $115.13 | 4.2% |
| 1992 | $118.60 | 3.0% |
| 1993 | $122.15 | 3.0% |
| 1994 | $125.27 | 2.6% |
| 1995 | $128.83 | 2.8% |
| 1996 | $132.63 | 3.0% |
| 1997 | $135.67 | 2.3% |
| 1998 | $137.79 | 1.6% |
| 1999 | $140.83 | 2.2% |
| 2000 | $145.56 | 3.4% |
| 2001 | $149.70 | 2.8% |
| 2002 | $152.07 | 1.6% |
| 2003 | $155.54 | 2.3% |
| 2004 | $159.68 | 2.7% |
| 2005 | $165.09 | 3.4% |
| 2006 | $170.41 | 3.2% |
| 2007 | $175.23 | 2.8% |
| 2008 | $181.99 | 3.9% |
| 2009 | $181.32 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | $184.36 | 1.7% |
| 2011 | $190.11 | 3.1% |
| 2012 | $194.08 | 2.1% |
| 2013 | $196.96 | 1.5% |
| 2014 | $200.08 | 1.6% |
| 2015 | $200.34 | 0.1% |
| 2016 | $202.87 | 1.3% |
| 2017 | $207.19 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | $212.26 | 2.4% |
| 2019 | $216.15 | 1.8% |
| 2020 | $218.77 | 1.2% |
| 2021 | $229.08 | 4.7% |
| 2022 | $247.42 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | $257.06 | 3.9% |
| 2024 | $265.00 | 3.1% |
| 2025 | $271.34 | 2.4% |
| 2026 | $277.26 | 2.2% |
Questions about 1988 dollars
What is $100 in 1988 worth today?
$100 in 1988 is worth about $277.26 in 2026. The US dollar lost roughly 64% of its 1988 purchasing power, so it takes 2.77 2026 dollars to buy what one dollar bought in 1988. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U annual averages (CPI 118.3 in 1988, 328 in 2026).
How much has inflation been since 1988?
Cumulative US inflation from 1988 to 2026 is about 177.3%, an average of 2.72% per year over 38 years.
What is $1,000 in 1988 worth in 2026?
$1,000 in 1988 has the same buying power as about $2,773 in 2026.
What was the inflation rate in 1988?
The US inflation rate in 1988 was 4.1%, measured as the change in the annual average CPI-U from 1987 (113.6) to 1988 (118.3).
Method: value = amount × (CPI2026 ÷ CPI1988). Figures are national averages for educational use and are not financial advice. See Understanding the CPI and the history of US inflation.