Inflation Calculator
Find out how the purchasing power of a dollar has changed over time using US Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from 1913 to 2026. Enter an amount, choose a start year and an end year, and instantly see the inflation-adjusted equivalent.
Adjust for Inflation
Result
Original Amount
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Adjusted Amount
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Cumulative Inflation
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How This Inflation Calculator Works
This tool uses US CPI-U (Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers) annual average data published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The formula is straightforward:
Adjusted Amount = Original Amount × (CPI in Target Year ÷ CPI in Base Year)
For example, $100 in 1990, when the CPI was approximately 130.7, adjusted to 2024 (CPI ≈ 314.2) would be:
$100 × (314.2 ÷ 130.7) = $240.40
This means it took about $240 in 2024 to buy what $100 bought in 1990. Prices roughly doubled over those 34 years.
What Is Inflation?
Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises over time, which correspondingly decreases purchasing power. When inflation is positive, every dollar you hold buys a little less each year. The Federal Reserve targets an average inflation rate of about 2% per year.
The CPI measures changes in the price level of a market basket of consumer goods and services purchased by households. It is one of the most frequently used statistics for identifying periods of inflation or deflation, and is used for adjusting wages, Social Security payments, tax brackets, and more.
Historical Inflation Context
Inflation has not been consistent throughout US history. Some notable periods:
- World War I (1917–1920): Prices nearly doubled in just four years as wartime demand drove sharp increases.
- The Great Depression (1929–1933): Prices fell sharply — this is called deflation. The CPI dropped about 25% during this period.
- Post-WWII (1947–1948): Rapid inflation as wartime price controls were lifted and consumer demand surged.
- The 1970s stagflation: Oil shocks and economic policy led to the worst sustained peacetime inflation in US history, with annual rates topping 13%.
- 1983–2020: Relatively stable inflation generally in the 1–4% range, earning it the name "The Great Moderation."
- 2021–2023 post-pandemic inflation: Supply chain disruptions, fiscal stimulus, and pent-up demand pushed inflation to a 40-year high of over 9% in June 2022.
If you are planning a long-term budget, check out the retirement savings calculator, which lets you account for expected inflation when projecting your nest egg.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do the numbers only go back to 1913?
The BLS began calculating the CPI in 1913, so that is the earliest year for which reliable annual data exists. Before 1913, price data exists but is less standardized and widely varying by region.
Why are the 2025 and 2026 numbers estimates?
Annual average CPI is published after the full year concludes. Values for the current and most recent year may be projected based on available monthly data and are therefore estimates.
Does this reflect the exact price of a specific item?
No — the CPI represents the average change across a broad market basket of goods and services. Individual items like housing, education, healthcare, or electronics may have experienced very different rates of inflation. CPI is best used as a general indicator of overall purchasing power change.
How does this differ from the GDP deflator?
The CPI measures price changes from the perspective of urban consumers, while the GDP deflator measures price changes for all goods and services produced domestically. The CPI is the most commonly used measure for everyday inflation adjustments.
