1988 dollars in today's money
| In 1988 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.85 |
| $5.00 | $14.25 |
| $10.00 | $28.49 |
| $20.00 | $56.98 |
| $50.00 | $142.46 |
| $100.00 | $284.92 |
| $1,000 | $2,849 |
| $10,000 | $28,492 |
Inflation in 1988
Prices rose 4.1% in 1988 compared with 1987. That is above the long-run average of 3.2% a year since 1913.
In the 1980s, the highest yearly rate was 13.5% in 1980 and the lowest was 1.9% in 1986.
The average Consumer Price Index in 1988 was 118.258 (1982–84 = 100). Today's index is 336.940, which is where the multiplier of 2.85× comes from.
Buying power: today's money in 1988
Going the other way, $100 today would have bought what $35.10 bought in 1988.
1988 compared with nearby years
| Year | $1 is worth today | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | $3.38 | 3.2% |
| 1984 | $3.24 | 4.3% |
| 1985 | $3.13 | 3.5% |
| 1986 | $3.07 | 1.9% |
| 1987 | $2.97 | 3.7% |
| 1989 | $2.72 | 4.8% |
| 1990 | $2.58 | 5.4% |
| 1991 | $2.47 | 4.2% |
| 1992 | $2.40 | 3.0% |
| 1993 | $2.33 | 3.0% |
How this is calculated
Value today = amount × (CPI in September 2026 ÷ average CPI in 1988). The data is the CPI-U, all items, not seasonally adjusted, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Use the calculator above to convert between any two years.