Food priced at $1 in 1988 $1.12 in 1990

Food Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Food, 1988-1990 ($1)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for food were 12.01% higher in 1990 versus 1988 (a $0.12 difference in value).

Between 1988 and 1990: Food experienced an average inflation rate of 5.83% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, food costing $1 in the year 1988 would cost $1.12 in 1990 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 5.11% during this same period, inflation for food was higher.

In the year 1988: Pricing changed by 4.13%, which is below the average yearly change for food during the 1988-1990 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1988 (4.08%), inflation for food was higher.

Price Inflation for Food since 1913

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1917 (28.65%), 1921 (-24.20%), and 1947 (21.43%).

View price changes for other categories
Fresh fruits · Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota · Milk · Admission to sporting events · More

Buying power of $1.00 since 1988

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Food, over time, for $1 beginning in 1988. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1988$1.004.13%
1989$1.065.84%
1990$1.125.83%
1991$1.152.93%
1992$1.171.20%
1993$1.192.15%
1994$1.222.42%
1995$1.262.87%
1996$1.303.28%
1997$1.332.60%
1998$1.362.17%
1999$1.392.13%
2000$1.422.26%
2001$1.463.14%
2002$1.491.81%
2003$1.522.13%
2004$1.583.44%
2005$1.612.44%
2006$1.652.34%
2007$1.723.97%
2008$1.815.51%
2009$1.841.80%
2010$1.860.77%
2011$1.933.74%
2012$1.982.61%
2013$2.011.39%
2014$2.052.40%
2015$2.091.86%
2016$2.100.28%
2017$2.120.86%
2018$2.151.40%
2019$2.191.88%
2020$2.263.45%
2021$2.353.94%
2022$2.589.95%
2023$2.735.76%
2024$2.771.41%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.


Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Food:

Year1913191419151916191719181919192019211922192319241925192619271928192919301931193219331934193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI9.92310.15410.05411.27714.50816.70018.57720.97715.90014.89215.38515.23116.50017.04616.43116.24616.45415.64612.90010.72310.41511.60812.45412.56913.08512.13811.82311.98513.07715.38517.10016.87717.26219.81524.06226.08525.06225.39228.22328.72328.26928.23827.81528.02328.92330.16929.66230.01530.36230.63131.06931.47732.17733.80834.06235.29237.10839.20040.35442.09248.17755.11559.79261.63165.51572.05479.91586.77793.56297.35499.408103.231105.569108.946113.485118.177125.077132.369136.254137.892140.862144.277148.415153.285157.277160.685164.100167.815173.085176.215179.977186.177190.723195.177202.916214.106217.955219.625227.842233.777237.037242.725247.235247.931250.065253.558258.316267.219277.756305.388322.965327.529

Adjust food prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 1990 / CPI in 1988 * 1988 USD value = 1990 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Food was 118.177 in the year 1988 and 132.369 in 1990:

132.369 / 118.177 * $1 = $1.12

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $1 in 1988 has the same "purchasing power" as $1.12 in 1990 (in the CPI category of Food).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Food in 1913. In addition to food, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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