Inflation calculator
Updated Updated for 2026 tax law
See what money from any year since 1913 is worth today — or what today's dollars would have bought in the past — using the official Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, updated through September 2026.
- Cumulative inflation, 2000–2026 (Sep)
- 95.7%
- Average inflation per year
- 2.59%over 26.2 years
- $1 in 2026 (Sep) buys what this much did in 2000
- $0.51purchasing power lost: 48.9%
- CPI-U 2000 → 2026 (Sep)
- 172.2 → 336.94
Year-by-year table
| Year | CPI-U | Inflation | Value of $100.00 from 2000 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $100.00 |
| 2001 | 177.1 | 2.8% | $102.85 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $104.47 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $106.85 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $109.70 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $113.41 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $117.07 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $120.41 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $125.03 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | −0.4% | $124.59 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $126.63 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $130.63 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $133.33 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $135.28 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $137.48 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $137.64 |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% | $139.38 |
| 2017 | 245.12 | 2.1% | $142.35 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $145.82 |
| 2019 | 255.657 | 1.8% | $148.47 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $150.30 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $157.36 |
| 2022 | 292.655 | 8.0% | $169.95 |
| 2023 | 304.702 | 4.1% | $176.95 |
| 2024 | 313.689 | 2.9% | $182.17 |
| 2025 | 321.943 | 2.6% | $186.96 |
| 2026 (Sep) | 336.94 | — | $195.67 |
How to use the inflation calculator
- Enter a dollar amount — a price, a salary, savings or a payment.
- Pick the year the amount is from in "In year".
- Pick the year to compare with in "Worth in year"; it defaults to 2026 (latest data: September 2026). Choose an earlier year to go back in time.
- Read the equivalent value, total inflation over the period and the average yearly rate. The chart and year-by-year table show every year in between.
The inflation formula
Cumulative inflation = CPI(B) ÷ CPI(A) − 1
Average annual inflation = (CPI(B) ÷ CPI(A))1 ÷ years − 1
Example: $100 in 2000 (CPI 172.2) × 336.94 ÷ 172.2 = $195.67 in September 2026. Prices rose 95.7% in total, or 2.59% a year. Since 2020 alone, prices are up 30.2%. A single dollar from 1913 equals $34.03 today.
What $100 was worth, by decade
| Year | CPI-U | $100 then = today | Total inflation | Avg. inflation in that decade |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1913 | 9.9 | $3,403 | 3303% | 9.7% / yr (1913–1919) |
| 1920 | 20 | $1,685 | 1585% | −1.7% / yr (1920–1929) |
| 1930 | 16.7 | $2,018 | 1918% | −2.0% / yr (1930–1939) |
| 1940 | 14 | $2,407 | 2307% | 6.1% / yr (1940–1949) |
| 1950 | 24.1 | $1,398 | 1298% | 2.1% / yr (1950–1959) |
| 1960 | 29.6 | $1,138 | 1038% | 2.4% / yr (1960–1969) |
| 1970 | 38.8 | $868 | 768% | 7.2% / yr (1970–1979) |
| 1980 | 82.4 | $409 | 309% | 4.6% / yr (1980–1989) |
| 1990 | 130.7 | $258 | 158% | 2.7% / yr (1990–1999) |
| 2000 | 172.2 | $196 | 96% | 2.5% / yr (2000–2009) |
| 2010 | 218.056 | $155 | 55% | 1.8% / yr (2010–2019) |
| 2020 | 258.811 | $130 | 30% | 4.5% / yr (2020–2025) |
The 1970s were the worst decade for prices; the 1930s saw deflation. Since 2000, inflation has averaged about 2.6% a year — enough to cut a dollar's buying power by 49%.
Highest and lowest inflation years
- 191818.0%
- 191717.4%
- 192015.6%
- 191914.6%
- 194714.4%
- 1921−10.5%
- 1932−9.9%
- 1931−9.0%
- 1922−6.1%
- 1933−5.1%
Annual-average change in CPI-U. See every year in the US inflation rate by year table.
Things to know
- CPI-U is the standard measure used for most inflation adjustments, tax brackets and news headlines. Social Security uses CPI-W, a close cousin; the Federal Reserve targets PCE inflation, which usually runs a few tenths lower.
- Annual averages vs single months. Average annual figures smooth out seasonal swings. A December-to-December comparison can differ noticeably in years when inflation sped up or slowed down.
- Long periods compound. 3% a year doubles prices in about 24 years; 7% (the 1970s pace) doubles them in about 10.
- Investments should be compared in real terms. A savings account paying less than inflation loses buying power — use the compound interest calculator with its inflation option.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), U.S. city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted, series CUUR0000SA0 (1982–84 = 100). Annual averages 1913–2025; 2026 uses the latest month published, September 2026. Data retrieved October 18, 2026 from bls.gov/cpi.
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Frequently asked questions
How much is $100 from 1970 worth today?
$868 in September 2026 dollars. Prices are 8.68 times higher (CPI-U 38.8 in 1970 vs 336.94 now), an average of 3.92% inflation a year.
What is the current US inflation rate?
Consumer prices rose 3.7% in the 12 months to September 2026 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted). The 2025 annual average was 2.6% above 2024.
How is inflation calculated?
Divide the Consumer Price Index of the later year by the CPI of the earlier year and multiply by the amount. $100 × CPI(today) ÷ CPI(then) gives the same purchasing power in today's dollars. Cumulative inflation is that ratio minus one.
Why is my answer slightly different from the BLS calculator?
The BLS CPI Inflation Calculator compares single months (e.g. January 1990 to September 2026). This calculator uses each year's annual average, which smooths out seasonal swings, and the latest month for 2026. Results differ by a few percent at most.
Does the CPI measure my personal inflation?
Not exactly. CPI-U tracks a basket representing about 90% of the US population. If you spend more than average on rent, health care or driving, your own inflation can be higher or lower than the official figure.
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Estimates for information only — not tax, legal or financial advice.