Inflation Calculator: What a Dollar From Any Year Is Worth Today
This inflation calculator uses the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics to compare a dollar amount across years. Enter an amount and two years, and it shows the equivalent value, the cumulative price change, and the average yearly inflation in between.
Inflation Calculator
Equivalent value
Based on BLS CPI-U data, $100.00 in 2000 had about the same buying power as $195.67 in September 2026. Prices changed 95.7% over that span, an estimated average of 2.59% a year.
- Cumulative inflation
- Purchasing-power change
- Average annual inflation
- Start CPI-U
- End CPI-U
Before
After
CPI-U Over the Selected Years
CPI-U annual average (solid line); the point marks the end year
| Year | CPI-U Annual Average | Annual Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | 172.200 | 3.4% |
| 2001 | 177.100 | 2.8% |
| 2002 | 179.900 | 1.6% |
| 2003 | 184.000 | 2.3% |
| 2004 | 188.900 | 2.7% |
| 2005 | 195.300 | 3.4% |
| 2006 | 201.600 | 3.2% |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% |
| 2017 | 245.120 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% |
| 2019 | 255.657 | 1.8% |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% |
| 2021 | 270.970 | 4.7% |
| 2022 | 292.655 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | 304.702 | 4.1% |
| 2024 | 313.689 | 2.9% |
| 2025* | 321.943 | 2.6% |
| 2026* | 332.243 | 3.2% |
* Partial year. 2025 averages 11 months because BLS published no October 2025 index; 2026 averages January to September. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U, U.S. city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted (1982-84 = 100), via FRED series CPIAUCNS.
Assumptions
- The calculator uses the national CPI-U, which reflects average urban consumer prices, not any one household's spending.
- Annual figures are averages of the published monthly index; choosing months uses those single months.
- Results show equivalent buying power, not what any specific item cost.
- Taxes, wages, and investment returns are not included.
Educational estimate only. This calculator uses the assumptions you enter to illustrate a possible financial outcome. It does not predict future investment performance, interest rates, inflation, taxes, market prices, or financial results. Actual outcomes may differ.
How the Inflation Calculator Works
The calculation scales an amount by the change in the price index between two dates:
Adjusted value = Original amount × (End CPI ÷ Start CPI)
For example, the CPI-U averaged 172.2 in 2000 and 336.940 in September 2026, so $100 in 2000 had about the same buying power as $195.67 in September 2026. That is a cumulative price increase of about 95.7%, an average of about 2.6% a year. These are Fin Loom calculations from the published index.
When you leave the month blank, the calculator uses that year's annual average, which is the average of its published monthly index values. Choosing a month uses that single month instead, which is useful for comparing a specific paycheck, price, or contract date.
What the Results Mean
Equivalent value is the amount that would buy roughly the same basket of goods and services at the end date. Cumulative inflation is the total percentage change in the index. Purchasing-power change shows how much less (or more) the original dollars would buy at the end date. Average annual inflation spreads the total change evenly across the years, as a compound rate.
The chart traces the CPI-U annual average across your selected years, and the table lists each year's index and its change from the year before. For a fuller history with the annual rate for every year, see the inflation rate year by year.
About the Data
The calculator embeds the CPI-U, U.S. city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted (1982-84 = 100), BLS series CUUR0000SA0, from January 1913 through September 2026, as published on the FRED database of the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis. It runs entirely in your browser and makes no live data requests.
BLS did not publish an October 2025 index because of the 2025 lapse in appropriations, so that month cannot be selected, and the 2025 annual average uses the 11 published months. The 2026 figures cover January through September.
Limits of an Inflation Calculator
The CPI-U measures average price changes for urban consumers. Your own costs can rise faster or slower depending on what you buy, where you live, and how your spending changes over time. The calculator also does not account for wage growth, taxes, or investment returns, so it describes buying power rather than whether savings kept pace.
More Fin Loom Calculators
This tool is part of Fin Loom's set of financial calculators and reference tools, which covers inflation, compound interest, investment growth, dividends, withdrawals, capital gains tax, and stock trades.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where Does the Inflation Data Come From?
The calculator uses the BLS CPI-U, U.S. city average, all items index, not seasonally adjusted, from January 1913 through September 2026.
Why Is There No October 2025 Option?
BLS did not collect or publish an October 2025 CPI because of the 2025 lapse in appropriations, so the 2025 annual average uses 11 months.
Is the Result the Price of a Specific Item?
No. It shows equivalent overall buying power. Individual prices, such as rent, gasoline, or tuition, can change much faster or slower than the index.