Value of $100 from 1890 to 1887
$100 in 1890 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $104.40 in 1887, a difference of $4.40 over 3 years. The dollar had an average deflation rate of -1.42% per year since 1887, producing a cumulative price change of 4.40%.
This means that prices in 1887 are 1.04 times as high as average prices since 1890, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.
The inflation rate in 1887 was 1.06%. The inflation rate in 1890 was -1.09%. The 1890 inflation rate is lower compared to the average inflation rate of 2.68% per year between 1890 and 2024.
Contents
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| Cumulative price change | 4.40% |
| Average inflation rate | -1.42% |
| Converted amount $100 base | $104.40 |
| Price difference $100 base | $4.40 |
| CPI in 1890 | 9.100 |
| CPI in 1887 | 9.500 |
| Inflation in 1887 | 1.06% |
| Inflation in 1890 | -1.09% |
| $100 in 1890 | $104.40 in 1887 |
Buying power of $100 in 1887
This chart shows a calculation of buying power equivalence for $100 in 1887 (price index tracking began in 1635).
For example, if you started with $100, you would need to end with $104.40 in order to "adjust" for inflation (sometimes refered to as "beating inflation").
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:
This conversion table shows various other 1887 amounts in 1890 dollars, based on the 4.40% change in prices:
| Initial value | Equivalent value |
|---|---|
| $1 dollar in 1887 | $0.96 dollars in 1890 |
| $5 dollars in 1887 | $4.79 dollars in 1890 |
| $10 dollars in 1887 | $9.58 dollars in 1890 |
| $50 dollars in 1887 | $47.89 dollars in 1890 |
| $100 dollars in 1887 | $95.79 dollars in 1890 |
| $500 dollars in 1887 | $478.95 dollars in 1890 |
| $1,000 dollars in 1887 | $957.89 dollars in 1890 |
| $5,000 dollars in 1887 | $4,789.47 dollars in 1890 |
| $10,000 dollars in 1887 | $9,578.95 dollars in 1890 |
| $50,000 dollars in 1887 | $47,894.74 dollars in 1890 |
| $100,000 dollars in 1887 | $95,789.47 dollars in 1890 |
| $500,000 dollars in 1887 | $478,947.37 dollars in 1890 |
| $1,000,000 dollars in 1887 | $957,894.74 dollars in 1890 |
Inflation by Country
Inflation can also vary widely by country. For comparison, in the UK £100.00 in 1890 would be equivalent to £97.73 in 1887, an absolute change of £-2.27 and a cumulative change of -2.27%.
Compare these numbers to the US's overall absolute change of $4.40 and total percent change of 4.40%.
Inflation by Spending Category
CPI is the weighted combination of many categories of spending that are tracked by the government. Breaking down these categories helps explain the main drivers behind price changes.
This chart shows the average rate of inflation for select CPI categories between 1890 and 1887.
Compare these values to the overall average of -1.42% per year:
| Category | Avg Inflation (%) | Total Inflation (%) | $100 in 1887 → 1890 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food and beverages | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Housing | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Apparel | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Transportation | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Medical care | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Recreation | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Education and communication | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Other goods and services | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
The graph below compares inflation in categories of goods over time. Click on a category such as "Food" to toggle it on or off:
For all these visualizations, it's important to note that not all categories may have been tracked since 1890. This table and charts use the earliest available data for each category.
How to calculate inflation rate for $100, 1887 to 1890
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1887 and 1890:
CPI in 1887 CPI in 1890
×
1890 USD value
=
1887 USD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The U.S. CPI was 9.1 in the year 1890 and 9.5 in 1887:
9.59.1
×
$100
=
$104.40
$100 in 1890 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $104.40 in 1887.
To get the total inflation rate for the 3 years between 1887 and 1890, we use the following formula:
CPI in 1887 - CPI in 1890CPI in 1890
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (3 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
9.5 - 9.19.1
×
100
=
4%
Data source & citation
Raw data for these calculations comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI), established in 1913. Price index data from 1774 to 1912 is sourced from a historical study conducted by political science professor Robert Sahr at Oregon State University and from the American Antiquarian Society. Price index data from 1634 to 1773 is from the American Antiquarian Society, using British pound equivalents.
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “$100 in 1890 → 1887 | Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 14 Nov. 2024, https://www.officialdata.org/1890-dollars-in-1887?amount=100.
Special thanks to QuickChart for their chart image API, which is used for chart downloads.
| Cumulative price change | 4.40% |
| Average inflation rate | -1.42% |
| Converted amount $100 base | $104.40 |
| Price difference $100 base | $4.40 |
| CPI in 1890 | 9.100 |
| CPI in 1887 | 9.500 |
| Inflation in 1887 | 1.06% |
| Inflation in 1890 | -1.09% |
| $100 in 1890 | $104.40 in 1887 |