$20 in 2020 is worth $10.10 in 1990

Buying power of $20 in 1990

This chart shows a calculation of buying power equivalence for $20 in 1990 (price index tracking began in 1635).

For example, if you started with $20, you would need to end with $10.10 in order to "adjust" for inflation (sometimes refered to as "beating inflation").

When $20 is equivalent to $10.10 over time, that means that the "real value" of a single U.S. dollar decreases over time. In other words, a dollar will pay for fewer items at the store.

This effect explains how inflation erodes the value of a dollar over time. By calculating the value in 1990 dollars, the chart below shows how $20 is worth less over 30 years.

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 1990 amounts in 2020 dollars, based on the -49.50% change in prices:

Inflation by City

Inflation can vary widely by city, even within the United States. Here's how some cities fared in 2020 to 1990 (figures shown are purchasing power equivalents of $20):

• San Diego, California: 3.39% average rate, $20 → $54.45, cumulative change of 172.25%
• Seattle, Washington: 3.29% average rate, $20 → $52.89, cumulative change of 164.43%
• San Francisco, California: 2.77% average rate, $20 → $45.43, cumulative change of 127.15%
• Denver, Colorado: 2.74% average rate, $20 → $45.03, cumulative change of 125.15%
• Atlanta, Georgia: 2.62% average rate, $20 → $43.43, cumulative change of 117.15%
• Miami-Fort Lauderdale, Florida: 2.55% average rate, $20 → $42.63, cumulative change of 113.13%
• Tampa, Florida: 2.49% average rate, $20 → $41.87, cumulative change of 109.35%
• Boston, Massachusetts: 2.42% average rate, $20 → $41.00, cumulative change of 104.99%
• New York: 2.41% average rate, $20 → $40.84, cumulative change of 104.21%
• Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota: 2.32% average rate, $20 → $39.84, cumulative change of 99.21%
• Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas: 2.19% average rate, $20 → $38.30, cumulative change of 91.52%
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 2.17% average rate, $20 → $38.10, cumulative change of 90.49%
• Houston, Texas: 2.17% average rate, $20 → $38.09, cumulative change of 90.43%
• Detroit, Michigan: 2.08% average rate, $20 → $37.05, cumulative change of 85.23%
• Chicago, Illinois: 2.07% average rate, $20 → $37.03, cumulative change of 85.17%
• St Louis, Missouri: 2.01% average rate, $20 → $36.35, cumulative change of 81.74%

San Diego, California experienced the highest rate of inflation during the 30 years between 1990 and 2020 (3.39%).

St Louis, Missouri experienced the lowest rate of inflation during the 30 years between 1990 and 2020 (2.01%).

Note that some locations showing 0% inflation may have not yet reported latest data.

Inflation by Country

Inflation can also vary widely by country. For comparison, in the UK £20.00 in 2020 would be equivalent to £8.64 in 1990, an absolute change of £-11.36 and a cumulative change of -56.81%.

In Canada, CA$20.00 in 2020 would be equivalent to CA$11.44 in 1990, an absolute change of CA$-8.56 and a cumulative change of -42.79%.

Compare these numbers to the US's overall absolute change of $-9.90 and total percent change of -49.50%.

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.

Between 1990 and 2020:

• Gas prices increased from $1.04 per gallon to $2.57
• Bread prices increased from $0.69 per loaf to $1.35
• Egg prices increased from $1.22 per carton to $1.46
• Chicken prices increased from $0.88 per per 1 lb of whole chicken to $1.41
• Electricity prices increased from $0.08 per KwH to $0.13

This chart shows the average rate of inflation for select CPI categories between 2020 and 1990.

Compare these values to the overall average of 2.30% per year:

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 2020. This table and charts use the earliest available data for each category.

How to calculate inflation rate for $20, 1990 to 2020

Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1990 and 2020:

Then plug in historical CPI values. The U.S. CPI was 258.81166666667 in the year 2020 and 130.7 in 1990:

$20 in 2020 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $10.10 in 1990.

To get the total inflation rate for the 30 years between 1990 and 2020, we use the following formula:

Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:

Alternate Measurements of Inflation

There are multiple ways to measure inflation. Published rates of inflation will vary depending on methodology. The Consumer Price Index, used above, is the most common standard used globally.

Alternative measurements are sometimes used based on context and economic/political circumstances. Below are a few examples of alternative measurements.

Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Inflation

The PCE Price Index is the U.S. Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation, compiled by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. It measures the change in prices of goods and services purchased by consumers.

The PCE Price Index changed by 1.88% per year on average between 2020 and 1990. The total PCE inflation between these dates was 75.06%. In 2020, PCE inflation was 4.39%.

This means that the PCE Index equates $20 in 2020 with $35.01 in 1990, a difference of $15.01. Compare this to the standard CPI measurement, which equates $20 with $10.10. The PCE measured 124.56% inflation compared to standard CPI.

For more information on the difference between PCE and CPI, see this analysis provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Core Inflation

Also of note is the Core CPI, which uses the standard CPI but omits the more volatile categories of food and energy.

Core inflation averaged 2.30% per year between 2020 and 1990 (vs all-CPI inflation of 2.30%), for an inflation total of 97.62%. In 2020, core inflation was 5.03%.

When using the core inflation measurement, $20 in 2020 is equivalent in buying power to $39.52 in 1990, a difference of $19.52. Recall that the converted amount is $10.10 when all items including food and energy are measured.

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.

» Read more about inflation and investment.