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US Inflation Calculator

Free US inflation calculator using BLS Consumer Price Index data from 1913 through 2026. Convert any historical dollar amount to today's purchasing power, or compare any two years.

Published

Convert any historical dollar amount to today’s purchasing power using BLS Consumer Price Index annual averages from 1913 through 2026.

Equivalent value

Cumulative inflation

Annualized rate

Worked example

Ask what $100 in the year 2000 is worth in 2025. The tool looks up the Consumer Price Index for both years, about 172.2 for 2000 and about 324.8 for 2025. It scales the amount by the ratio of the two indexes, so $100 multiplied by 324.8 divided by 172.2 is about $188.62. In other words, you would need roughly $188.62 in 2025 to buy what $100 bought in 2000. The cumulative inflation over that stretch is that same ratio minus one, or about 88.6%, meaning prices nearly doubled across 25 years. Spread evenly, that works out to an annualized rate of about 2.57% a year, found by taking the 25th root of the index ratio and subtracting one. The same engine runs in reverse: ask what a recent amount was worth in an earlier year and the ratio simply flips.

Item Value
Amount in 2000$100.00
CPI 2000172.2
CPI 2025324.8
Equivalent in 2025$188.62
Cumulative inflation88.6%
Annualized rate2.57%
Same purchasing power, 2000 vs 2025 2000 $100.00 2025 $188.62 Prices rose about 88.6% over 25 years, near 2.57% a year.

How it is calculated

Inflation is measured by the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, a basket of goods and services whose published index value rises as prices rise. To compare two years, the tool divides the later year's index by the earlier year's index and multiplies your amount by that ratio, which restates the money in the other year's prices. Cumulative inflation is the ratio minus one, expressed as a percent. The annualized rate is the constant yearly rate that would produce the same total change, computed as the ratio raised to the power of one divided by the number of years, minus one. For years not in the table the tool interpolates between the nearest known points. CPI is a broad national average, so your personal inflation rate can differ depending on how much you spend on housing, healthcare, or other categories that move faster or slower than the overall basket. The index values shown are annual averages and should be treated as close approximations rather than the final official figures.

Frequently asked questions

What is CPI-U?
Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, the most commonly cited inflation measure in the US, published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It tracks a basket of consumer goods and services purchased by urban consumers.
Why does this differ slightly from the BLS calculator?
This calculator uses annual-average CPI-U values, which is the standard BLS approach for cross-year comparisons. Differences of less than 0.5% from other tools are normal and reflect rounding or whether they use January-vs-January or annual-average inputs.
Is the 2026 number a final reading?
No. The 2026 CPI-U annual average is projected. This calculator’s 2026 value is an estimate and will be replaced with the final BLS publication when available. For maximum precision on recent years, use the BLS Inflation Calculator directly.
Does CPI capture my personal inflation rate?
Probably not exactly. CPI-U is a national basket weighted to average urban consumer spending. Your personal inflation depends on what you actually buy. Housing, healthcare, and education have historically inflated faster than CPI; consumer electronics and apparel slower.

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