Inflation & buying power
What is 1988 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1988 has the same buying power as about $2.83 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1988 is about 183%, or roughly 2.8% per year over 38 years.
What 1988 money is worth today
| In 1988 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $28.34 |
| $100.00 | $283.38 |
| $1,000 | $2,834 |
| $10,000 | $28,338 |
| $100,000 | $283,383 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1988 dollar is worth about $2.83 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1988 — during the 1980s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $2.83, because everyday prices have climbed about 183% in the 38 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.35 bought in 1988.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1988: about 183%.
- Average annual inflation: about 2.8% per year.
- Time span: 38 years (1988 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1988 worth today?
$1 in 1988 has the same buying power as about $2.83 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 183% since then (an average of about 2.8% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1988?
Cumulative inflation from 1988 to May 2026 is about 183%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1988 costs about $283.38 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.