Use this US CPI Inflation Calculator to see how inflation has changed the purchasing power of the dollar over time. Enter an amount, choose a starting year and an ending year, and compare its inflation-adjusted value, cumulative price change, and average annual inflation rate. The calculator uses historical annual-average Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) data for the United States.
CPI Inflation Calculator
Compare the purchasing power of US dollars over time.
Uses annual-average CPI-U figures. Choose any year from 1913 to 2026.
Inflation Results
Your results update automatically when you change an input.
| Year | CPI index | Equivalent value |
|---|
Historical annual averages, not monthly inflation. Figures are estimates of average consumer price changes, not a prediction of future prices.
Example: How Inflation Changes the Value of Money
Suppose you had $1,000 in 2000 and want to understand its equivalent value in 2025. Select 2000 as the starting year, 2025 as the ending year, and enter $1,000.
The calculator compares the annual-average Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) for both years to estimate how much money would be needed in 2025 to match the purchasing power of $1,000 in 2000. The result also shows the cumulative price change and average annual inflation rate.
What Is CPI Inflation?
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures changes in the prices consumers pay for a representative basket of goods and services. In the United States, the Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes CPI data covering items such as food, housing, transportation, medical care, and other everyday expenses.
Inflation generally means that prices are rising over time, so the same amount of money buys fewer goods and services than it did previously.
How Is Inflation Calculated?
The calculator compares the CPI index for the selected years using this formula:
Inflation-adjusted value = Original amount × (Ending-year CPI ÷ Starting-year CPI)
For example, if the ending-year CPI is twice the starting-year CPI, $100 from the starting year would have an equivalent purchasing-power value of approximately $200 in the ending year.
Cumulative inflation is calculated from the percentage change between the two CPI figures. Average annual inflation is the compounded annual rate over the selected period.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does a CPI Inflation Calculator do?
It estimates how the purchasing power of a dollar amount changes between two years using historical Consumer Price Index data.
What years does this calculator cover?
This calculator covers 1913 through 2025 using historical annual-average CPI-U figures.
Is this calculator based on US inflation data?
Yes. It uses the US Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), covering all items in the US city average.
Does inflation affect every household equally?
No. CPI represents average price changes across a broad basket of consumer goods and services. Your personal experience may differ depending on spending on housing, groceries, healthcare, transportation, and other expenses.
Does the calculator predict future inflation?
No. It compares historical CPI data and does not forecast future inflation or guarantee future purchasing power.
Disclaimer: Results are estimates based on historical annual-average CPI-U data. They are intended for informational purposes only and may differ from individual household expenses. The historical CPI figures are rounded in some years, and the data should be reviewed and updated periodically against official Bureau of Labor Statistics publications.