Inflation Calculator
Pick an amount, a starting year and an ending year. The calculator tells you what the same buying power costs in the ending year, and how much prices changed in between.
It uses the official U.S. Consumer Price Index from 1913 to this year. It also has a second part to estimate the price of something in the future at a steady inflation rate.
Please note: Estimate only. This is not financial advice. Past inflation does not predict future inflation.
How it works
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) tracks the price of a typical basket of goods and services that urban households buy. To compare two years, divide the index for the later year by the index for the earlier year. Multiply your amount by that number.
This tool uses the CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted, published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A year’s figure is the average of its monthly values. The current year is the average so far, and 2025 is the average of its 11 published months, because the October 2025 figure was never released.
Your own inflation can differ from the average. Housing, healthcare, school and food rise at different speeds. A single index is a good guide for general buying power, not for any one product.
adjusted amount = amount × CPI(end year) ÷ CPI(start year)
average yearly inflation = (CPI end ÷ CPI start)^(1 ÷ years) − 1Worked example: $100 in 1990
The index was 130.658 in 1990 and 313.689 in 2024. So $100 in 1990 had the buying power of $240.08 in 2024. Prices rose 140.08% in total, an average of 2.61% a year.
Going the other way: $1,000 in 2000 matches about $1,869.59 in 2025 dollars, using the index of 172.2 for 2000 and 321.943 for 2025.
Frequently asked questions
Where does the data come from?
From the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, series CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted, retrieved through the St. Louis Fed’s FRED service. The source and retrieval date are listed at the bottom of this page.
Why is the latest year marked as partial?
The current year is not over yet, so its figure is the average of the months published so far. It will change a little when the year closes.
Why is 2025 different?
The October 2025 index was never published, because data collection was interrupted. The 2025 figure here averages the 11 months that exist.
Is the answer the same as my own cost of living?
Not exactly. It is the average for all urban consumers. If rent or healthcare is a big part of your budget, your own inflation may be higher or lower.
What inflation rate should I assume for the future?
Many planners use 2% to 3% a year, close to long-run averages. Try a few rates in the future-price box to see how much it matters.
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Sources
Content last reviewed 2026-10-13.