Inflation Calculator
U.S. Inflation Rate, $500 in 1990 to 2018
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index, the dollar experienced an average inflation rate of 2.37% per year. Prices in 2018 are 92.80% higher than prices in 1990.
In other words, $500 in 1990 is equivalent in purchasing power to $964.00 in 2018, a difference of $464.00 over 28 years.
The current inflation rate is now 2.87%1. If this number holds, $500 today will be equivalent to $514.36 next year. The current inflation rate page gives more detail on the latest official inflation rates.
| Cumulative price change | 92.80% |
| Average inflation rate | 2.37% |
| Converted amount ($500 base) | $964.00 |
| Price difference ($500 base) | $464.00 |
| CPI in 1990 | 130.7 |
| CPI in 2018 | 251.989 |
The above data describe the CPI for all items. Also of note is the Core CPI, which measures inflation for all items except for the more volatile categories of food and energy. Core inflation averaged 2.30% per year between 1990 and 2018 (vs all-CPI inflation of 2.37%).
When using the core inflation measurement, $500 in 1990 is equivalent in buying power to $189.22 in 2018, a difference of $89.22. Recall that for All Items, the converted amount is $964.00 with a difference of $464.00.
In 1990, core inflation was 5.03%.
CPI is the weighted combination of many categories. This chart shows the average rate of inflation for select CPI categories between 1990 and 2018.
Compare these values to the overall average of 2.37% per year:
| Category | Avg Inflation (%) | $500 in 1990 → 2018 |
|---|---|---|
| Food | 2.34 | 954.74 |
| Shelter | 2.82 | 1,090.34 |
| Energy | 2.77 | 1,073.55 |
| Apparel | 0.08 | 510.78 |
| New vehicles | 0.68 | 603.73 |
| Used cars and trucks | 0.59 | 588.99 |
| Transportation services | 2.90 | 1,112.53 |
| Medical care services | 4.21 | 1,586.89 |
| Medical care commodities | 3.08 | 1,170.00 |
It's important to note that not all categories may be tracked since 1990. This table and visualization use the earliest available data for each category.
Inflation rates for specific categories
Fish and seafood · Medical care · College tuition and fees · MoreHow to calculate the inflation rate for $500 since 1990
This inflation calculator uses the following inflation rate formula:
CPI in 2018 / CPI in 1990 * 1990 USD value = 2018 USD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The U.S. CPI was 130.7 in the year 1990 and 251.989 in 2018:
251.989 / 130.7 * $500 = $964.00
$500 in 1990 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $964.00 in 2018.
Buying power of $500 since 1990
This chart shows calculations of buying power equivalence over time for $500 in 1990 (price index tracking began in 1913).
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, each of these USD amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | $500.00 | 5.40% |
| 1991 | $521.04 | 4.21% |
| 1992 | $536.73 | 3.01% |
| 1993 | $552.79 | 2.99% |
| 1994 | $566.95 | 2.56% |
| 1995 | $583.01 | 2.83% |
| 1996 | $600.23 | 2.95% |
| 1997 | $614.00 | 2.29% |
| 1998 | $623.57 | 1.56% |
| 1999 | $637.34 | 2.21% |
| 2000 | $658.76 | 3.36% |
| 2001 | $677.51 | 2.85% |
| 2002 | $688.22 | 1.58% |
| 2003 | $703.90 | 2.28% |
| 2004 | $722.65 | 2.66% |
| 2005 | $747.13 | 3.39% |
| 2006 | $771.23 | 3.23% |
| 2007 | $793.20 | 2.85% |
| 2008 | $823.65 | 3.84% |
| 2009 | $820.72 | -0.36% |
| 2010 | $834.19 | 1.64% |
| 2011 | $860.52 | 3.16% |
| 2012 | $878.32 | 2.07% |
| 2013 | $891.19 | 1.46% |
| 2014 | $905.65 | 1.62% |
| 2015 | $906.72 | 0.12% |
| 2016 | $918.16 | 1.26% |
| 2017 | $936.44 | 1.99% |
| 2018 | $964.00 | 2.94%* |
News headlines from 1990
Politics and news often influence economic performance. Here's what was happening at the time:
- Nelson Mandela is released having spent 27 years in South African prison.
- The Hubble Space Telescope takes its first photos from space.
- Dr Penny Jamieson, becomes the first woman to be made an Anglican Bishop, in New Zeeland
- The United States sends troops to Saudi Arabia, marking the beginning of Operation Desert Shield.
Inflation can vary widely by country. For comparison, in the UK £500.00 in 1990 would be equivalent to £1,103.79 in 2018, an absolute change of £603.79 and a cumulative change of 220.76%.
In Canada, CA$500.00 in 1990 would be equivalent to CA$834.17 in 2018, an absolute change of CA$334.17 and a cumulative change of 166.83%.
Compare these numbers to the US's absolute change of $464.00 and percent change of 92.80%.
Data Source & Citation
Raw data for these calculations comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI), established in 1913. Inflation data from 1665 to 1912 is sourced from a historical study conducted by political science professor Robert Sahr at Oregon State University.
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “$500 in 1990 → 2018 | Inflation Calculator.” U.S. Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 19 Jul. 2018, https://www.officialdata.org/1990-dollars-in-2018?amount=500.
in2013dollars.com is a reference website maintained by the Official Data Foundation.