Inflation & buying power
What is 1987 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1987 has the same buying power as about $2.95 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1987 is about 195%, or roughly 2.8% per year over 39 years.
What 1987 money is worth today
| In 1987 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $29.49 |
| $100.00 | $294.94 |
| $1,000 | $2,949 |
| $10,000 | $29,494 |
| $100,000 | $294,938 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1987 dollar is worth about $2.95 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1987 — during the 1980s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $2.95, because everyday prices have climbed about 195% in the 39 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.34 bought in 1987.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1987: about 195%.
- Average annual inflation: about 2.8% per year.
- Time span: 39 years (1987 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1987 worth today?
$1 in 1987 has the same buying power as about $2.95 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 195% since then (an average of about 2.8% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1987?
Cumulative inflation from 1987 to May 2026 is about 195%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1987 costs about $294.94 now.
Where does this data come from?
It uses the U.S. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, series CPIAUCNS) published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED, using annual-average CPI for past years and the latest monthly value for today.