$1 in 1987 is worth $2.95 today

$1 in 1987 has the same buying power as

$2.95 in August 2026

That is 195% more, an average inflation rate of 2.80% a year over 39 years.

Put the other way, $1 today buys what $0.34 bought in 1987. Cash kept under the mattress since 1987 has lost 66% of its value.

$1 from nearby years

$1 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1982$3.476.2%
1983$3.363.2%
1984$3.224.3%
1985$3.113.6%
1986$3.061.9%
1987$2.953.6%
1988$2.834.1%
1989$2.704.8%
1990$2.565.4%
1991$2.464.2%
1992$2.393.0%

How $1 from 1987 grew

$0.00$0.50$1.00$1.50$2.00$2.50$3.00199019952000200520102015202020252026.625: $2.95
$1 from 1987 in each later year's dollars

$1 of 1987 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1 spent on each of these in 1987 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$3.09
Rent$3.65
Gasoline$4.49
Medical care$4.56
New cars$1.57
College tuition$7.08
Electricity$2.82
Clothing$1.24

Try a different amount or date

$1.00 in 1987 has the same buying power as

$2.95 in August 2026

Prices rose 194.9% in total, an average of 2.80% a year.

Questions

How much is $1 in 1987 worth today?
$1 in 1987 is worth $2.95 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $1 in 1987?
You would need $2.95 to buy what $1 bought in 1987. That is 2.95 times as much.
How much buying power has $1 lost since 1987?
Kept as cash, $1 from 1987 buys only what $0.34 of 1987 money bought. It has lost 66% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1987?
Prices rose 3.6% in 1987. Since then the average has been 2.80% a year.

Other amounts from 1987

$1 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1987