Wealthy PotInflation Calculator
See what any dollar amount from 1913 to today is worth in another year, using official BLS Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) data. Total inflation, average annual rate and a year-by-year table.
What a dollar was worth, and what it is worth now
Enter an amount, then pick a starting month and year and an ending month and year anywhere from January 1913 to August 2026. Choose Annual average instead of a month to compare whole years. The calculator uses the official Consumer Price Index from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and shows the equivalent amount, the total rise in prices, the average yearly inflation rate, how much buying power a dollar has lost, a chart, a year-by-year table you can download, and the same conversion for other amounts. It works backward too: put the later date first to see what today's money would have bought in the past.
How the calculation works
The CPI is an index where 100 equals average prices in 1982 to 1984. To move money between two dates, multiply the amount by the ratio of the two index values. The 2000 annual average was 172.2 and the 2025 annual average 321.943, so $100 in 2000 equals about $186.96 in 2025 money ($100 × 321.943 ÷ 172.2). Prices rose 87.0% over those 25 years, an average of about 2.5% a year.
The average yearly rate is a compound rate: the steady rate that produces the same total change. It is lower than adding each year's inflation together, because each year's rise builds on the higher prices of the year before.
Project inflation forward or backward
For the future there is no index yet, so this second calculator uses a steady rate you choose. Use it to see what something will cost in 20 years at 3% inflation, or what a future amount, such as a pension that does not rise with prices, is worth in today's money.
Inflation by decade
Average annual inflation, from BLS annual-average CPI-U (our calculation):
| Period | Average inflation per year | $100 at the start was worth at the end |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 to 1980 | 7.8% | $212 |
| 1980 to 1990 | 4.7% | $159 |
| 1990 to 2000 | 2.8% | $132 |
| 2000 to 2010 | 2.4% | $127 |
| 2010 to 2020 | 1.7% | $119 |
| 2020 to 2025 | 4.5% | $124 |
US inflation rate by month, 1914 to 2026
Each cell is the 12-month change in CPI-U for that month (not seasonally adjusted), the way BLS headlines the inflation rate. The last column is the change in the annual average. Warmer cells mean faster inflation; blue cells mean prices were falling.
| Year | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Annual |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 | 2.4 | 2.4 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 4.2 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | |||||
| 2025 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.6 | |
| 2024 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 2.9 |
| 2023 | 6.4 | 6.0 | 5.0 | 4.9 | 4.0 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.4 | 4.1 |
| 2022 | 7.5 | 7.9 | 8.5 | 8.3 | 8.6 | 9.1 | 8.5 | 8.3 | 8.2 | 7.7 | 7.1 | 6.5 | 8.0 |
| 2021 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2.6 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 5.4 | 5.4 | 5.3 | 5.4 | 6.2 | 6.8 | 7.0 | 4.7 |
| 2020 | 2.5 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 0.3 | 0.1 | 0.6 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.4 | 1.2 |
| 2019 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.8 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 1.8 |
| 2018 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 2.4 |
| 2017 | 2.5 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.1 |
| 2016 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.9 | 1.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 1.3 |
| 2015 | -0.1 | -0.0 | -0.1 | -0.2 | -0.0 | 0.1 | 0.2 | 0.2 | -0.0 | 0.2 | 0.5 | 0.7 | 0.1 |
| 2014 | 1.6 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.3 | 0.8 | 1.6 |
| 2013 | 1.6 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 1.4 | 1.8 | 2.0 | 1.5 | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.2 | 1.5 | 1.5 |
| 2012 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.7 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 2.1 |
| 2011 | 1.6 | 2.1 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.0 | 3.2 |
| 2010 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.0 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.6 |
| 2009 | 0.0 | 0.2 | -0.4 | -0.7 | -1.3 | -1.4 | -2.1 | -1.5 | -1.3 | -0.2 | 1.8 | 2.7 | -0.4 |
| 2008 | 4.3 | 4.0 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 5.0 | 5.6 | 5.4 | 4.9 | 3.7 | 1.1 | 0.1 | 3.8 |
| 2007 | 2.1 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.4 | 2.0 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 2.8 |
| 2006 | 4.0 | 3.6 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 2.1 | 1.3 | 2.0 | 2.5 | 3.2 |
| 2005 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| 2004 | 1.9 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 3.3 | 3.0 | 2.7 | 2.5 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.3 | 2.7 |
| 2003 | 2.6 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.0 | 1.8 | 1.9 | 2.3 |
| 2002 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.2 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 2.0 | 2.2 | 2.4 | 1.6 |
| 2001 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.6 | 2.1 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 2.8 |
| 2000 | 2.7 | 3.2 | 3.8 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 3.5 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.4 |
| 1999 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.1 | 2.0 | 2.1 | 2.3 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.2 |
| 1998 | 1.6 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.5 | 1.6 | 1.6 |
| 1997 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.2 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 1.7 | 2.3 |
| 1996 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.0 |
| 1995 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.8 |
| 1994 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.5 | 2.4 | 2.3 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 2.6 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 2.6 |
| 1993 | 3.3 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.8 | 2.7 | 2.7 | 3.0 |
| 1992 | 2.6 | 2.8 | 3.2 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.1 | 3.0 | 3.2 | 3.0 | 2.9 | 3.0 |
| 1991 | 5.7 | 5.3 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 3.8 | 3.4 | 2.9 | 3.0 | 3.1 | 4.2 |
| 1990 | 5.2 | 5.3 | 5.2 | 4.7 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 5.6 | 6.2 | 6.3 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 5.4 |
| 1989 | 4.7 | 4.8 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 5.4 | 5.2 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.3 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.6 | 4.8 |
| 1988 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.0 | 4.1 | 4.0 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.1 |
| 1987 | 1.5 | 2.1 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 3.9 | 3.7 | 3.9 | 4.3 | 4.4 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.4 | 3.6 |
| 1986 | 3.9 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 1.6 | 1.5 | 1.8 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.8 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 1.1 | 1.9 |
| 1985 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.6 | 3.3 | 3.1 | 3.2 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.6 |
| 1984 | 4.2 | 4.6 | 4.8 | 4.6 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.2 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 4.1 | 3.9 | 4.3 |
| 1983 | 3.7 | 3.5 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 3.5 | 2.6 | 2.5 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 3.8 | 3.2 |
| 1982 | 8.4 | 7.6 | 6.8 | 6.5 | 6.7 | 7.1 | 6.4 | 5.9 | 5.0 | 5.1 | 4.6 | 3.8 | 6.2 |
| 1981 | 11.8 | 11.4 | 10.5 | 10.0 | 9.8 | 9.6 | 10.8 | 10.8 | 11.0 | 10.1 | 9.6 | 8.9 | 10.3 |
| 1980 | 13.9 | 14.2 | 14.8 | 14.7 | 14.4 | 14.4 | 13.1 | 12.9 | 12.6 | 12.8 | 12.6 | 12.5 | 13.5 |
| 1979 | 9.3 | 9.9 | 10.1 | 10.5 | 10.9 | 10.9 | 11.3 | 11.8 | 12.2 | 12.1 | 12.6 | 13.3 | 11.3 |
| 1978 | 6.8 | 6.4 | 6.6 | 6.5 | 7.0 | 7.4 | 7.7 | 7.8 | 8.3 | 8.9 | 8.9 | 9.0 | 7.6 |
| 1977 | 5.2 | 5.9 | 6.4 | 7.0 | 6.7 | 6.9 | 6.8 | 6.6 | 6.6 | 6.4 | 6.7 | 6.7 | 6.5 |
| 1976 | 6.7 | 6.3 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 6.2 | 6.0 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 4.9 | 4.9 | 5.8 |
| 1975 | 11.8 | 11.2 | 10.3 | 10.2 | 9.5 | 9.4 | 9.7 | 8.6 | 7.9 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 6.9 | 9.1 |
| 1974 | 9.4 | 10.0 | 10.4 | 10.1 | 10.7 | 10.9 | 11.5 | 10.9 | 11.9 | 12.1 | 12.2 | 12.3 | 11.0 |
| 1973 | 3.6 | 3.9 | 4.6 | 5.1 | 5.5 | 6.0 | 5.7 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 7.8 | 8.3 | 8.7 | 6.2 |
| 1972 | 3.3 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.2 | 2.7 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 3.2 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 3.4 | 3.2 |
| 1971 | 5.3 | 5.0 | 4.7 | 4.2 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.4 | 4.6 | 4.1 | 3.8 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 4.4 |
| 1970 | 6.2 | 6.1 | 5.8 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 6.0 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.7 |
| 1969 | 4.4 | 4.7 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.5 | 5.4 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.7 | 5.9 | 6.2 | 5.5 |
| 1968 | 3.6 | 4.0 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 3.9 | 4.2 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.5 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.7 | 4.2 |
| 1967 | 3.5 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.8 | 2.4 | 2.7 | 3.0 | 3.1 |
| 1966 | 1.9 | 2.6 | 2.6 | 2.9 | 2.9 | 2.5 | 2.8 | 3.5 | 3.5 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 3.5 | 2.9 |
| 1965 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.6 | 1.9 | 1.6 |
| 1964 | 1.6 | 1.6 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 |
| 1963 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.6 | 1.3 |
| 1962 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.0 |
| 1961 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 |
| 1960 | 1.0 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.7 |
| 1959 | 1.4 | 1.0 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.3 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.0 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 0.7 |
| 1958 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.2 | 2.8 | 2.5 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 1.8 | 2.8 |
| 1957 | 3.0 | 3.4 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 3.3 | 3.7 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 3.3 | 2.9 | 3.3 |
| 1956 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 1.5 |
| 1955 | -0.7 | -0.7 | -0.7 | -0.4 | -0.7 | -0.7 | -0.4 | -0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.4 | -0.4 |
| 1954 | 1.1 | 1.5 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 0.7 | 0.4 | 0.4 | 0.0 | -0.4 | -0.7 | -0.4 | -0.7 | 0.7 |
| 1953 | 0.4 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.1 | 1.1 | 0.4 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.1 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 0.8 |
| 1952 | 4.3 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 2.3 | 3.1 | 3.1 | 2.3 | 1.9 | 1.1 | 0.8 | 1.9 |
| 1951 | 8.1 | 9.4 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 9.3 | 8.8 | 7.5 | 6.6 | 7.0 | 6.5 | 6.9 | 6.0 | 7.9 |
| 1950 | -2.1 | -1.3 | -0.8 | -1.3 | -0.4 | -0.4 | 1.7 | 2.1 | 2.1 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 5.9 | 1.3 |
| 1949 | 1.3 | 1.3 | 1.7 | 0.4 | -0.4 | -0.8 | -2.9 | -2.9 | -2.4 | -2.9 | -1.7 | -2.1 | -1.2 |
| 1948 | 10.2 | 9.3 | 6.8 | 8.7 | 9.1 | 9.5 | 9.9 | 8.9 | 6.5 | 6.1 | 4.8 | 3.0 | 8.1 |
| 1947 | 18.1 | 18.8 | 19.7 | 19.0 | 18.4 | 17.6 | 12.1 | 11.4 | 12.7 | 10.6 | 8.5 | 8.8 | 14.4 |
| 1946 | 2.2 | 1.7 | 2.8 | 3.4 | 3.4 | 3.3 | 9.4 | 11.6 | 12.7 | 14.9 | 17.7 | 18.1 | 8.3 |
| 1945 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 2.2 | 2.3 |
| 1944 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 1.2 | 0.6 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 2.3 | 1.7 |
| 1943 | 7.6 | 7.0 | 7.5 | 8.1 | 7.4 | 7.4 | 6.1 | 4.8 | 5.5 | 4.2 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 6.1 |
| 1942 | 11.3 | 12.1 | 12.7 | 12.6 | 13.2 | 10.9 | 11.6 | 10.7 | 9.3 | 9.2 | 9.1 | 9.0 | 10.9 |
| 1941 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 2.1 | 2.9 | 4.3 | 5.0 | 6.4 | 7.9 | 9.3 | 10.0 | 9.9 | 5.0 |
| 1940 | -0.7 | 0.7 | 0.7 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 1.4 | -0.7 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.7 | 0.7 |
| 1939 | -1.4 | -1.4 | -1.4 | -2.8 | -2.1 | -2.1 | -2.1 | -2.1 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 0.0 | -1.4 |
| 1938 | 0.7 | 0.0 | -0.7 | -0.7 | -2.1 | -2.1 | -2.8 | -2.8 | -3.4 | -4.1 | -3.4 | -2.8 | -2.1 |
| 1937 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 3.6 | 4.4 | 5.1 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 4.3 | 4.3 | 3.6 | 2.9 | 3.6 |
| 1936 | 1.5 | 0.7 | 0.0 | -0.7 | -0.7 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 1.4 | 1.4 | 1.5 |
| 1935 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.0 | 3.8 | 3.8 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 2.2 | 0.7 | 1.5 | 2.2 | 3.0 | 2.2 |
| 1934 | 2.3 | 4.7 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.6 | 5.5 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 3.0 | 2.3 | 2.3 | 1.5 | 3.1 |
| 1933 | -9.8 | -9.9 | -10.0 | -9.4 | -8.0 | -6.6 | -3.7 | -2.2 | -1.5 | -0.8 | 0.0 | 0.8 | -5.1 |
| 1932 | -10.1 | -10.2 | -10.3 | -10.3 | -10.5 | -9.9 | -9.9 | -10.6 | -10.7 | -10.7 | -10.2 | -10.3 | -9.9 |
| 1931 | -7.0 | -7.6 | -7.7 | -8.8 | -9.5 | -10.1 | -9.0 | -8.5 | -9.6 | -9.7 | -10.4 | -9.3 | -9.0 |
| 1930 | 0.0 | -0.6 | -0.6 | 0.6 | -0.6 | -1.8 | -4.0 | -4.6 | -4.0 | -4.6 | -5.2 | -6.4 | -2.3 |
| 1929 | -1.2 | 0.0 | -0.6 | -1.2 | -1.2 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 0.0 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 |
| 1928 | -1.1 | -1.7 | -1.2 | -1.2 | -1.1 | -2.8 | -1.2 | -0.6 | 0.0 | -1.1 | -0.6 | -1.2 | -1.7 |
| 1927 | -2.2 | -2.8 | -2.8 | -3.4 | -2.2 | -0.6 | -1.1 | -1.1 | -1.1 | -1.1 | -2.3 | -2.3 | -1.7 |
| 1926 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 2.9 | 4.1 | 2.9 | 1.1 | -1.1 | -1.7 | -1.1 | -0.6 | -1.7 | -1.1 | 1.1 |
| 1925 | 0.0 | 0.0 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 2.9 | 3.5 | 4.1 | 3.5 | 2.9 | 4.7 | 3.5 | 2.3 |
| 1924 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 1.8 | 0.6 | 0.6 | 0.0 | -0.6 | -0.6 | -0.6 | -0.6 | -0.6 | 0.0 | 0.0 |
| 1923 | -0.6 | -0.6 | 0.6 | 1.2 | 1.2 | 1.8 | 2.4 | 3.0 | 3.6 | 3.6 | 3.0 | 2.4 | 1.8 |
| 1922 | -11.1 | -8.2 | -8.7 | -7.7 | -5.6 | -5.1 | -5.1 | -6.2 | -5.1 | -4.6 | -3.4 | -2.3 | -6.1 |
| 1921 | -1.6 | -5.6 | -7.1 | -10.8 | -14.1 | -15.8 | -14.9 | -12.8 | -12.5 | -12.1 | -12.1 | -10.8 | -10.5 |
| 1920 | 17.0 | 20.4 | 20.1 | 21.6 | 21.9 | 23.7 | 19.5 | 14.7 | 12.4 | 9.9 | 7.0 | 2.6 | 15.6 |
| 1919 | 17.9 | 14.9 | 17.1 | 17.6 | 16.6 | 15.0 | 15.2 | 14.9 | 13.4 | 13.1 | 13.5 | 14.5 | 14.6 |
| 1918 | 19.7 | 17.5 | 16.7 | 12.7 | 13.3 | 13.1 | 18.0 | 18.5 | 18.0 | 18.5 | 20.7 | 20.4 | 18.0 |
| 1917 | 12.5 | 15.4 | 14.3 | 18.9 | 19.6 | 20.4 | 18.5 | 19.3 | 19.8 | 19.5 | 17.4 | 18.1 | 17.4 |
| 1916 | 3.0 | 4.0 | 6.1 | 6.0 | 5.9 | 6.9 | 6.9 | 7.9 | 9.9 | 10.8 | 11.7 | 12.6 | 7.9 |
| 1915 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | -1.0 | -1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 |
| 1914 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 0.0 | 2.1 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 3.0 | 2.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 |
Blank cells: the month has not been published yet, or BLS has no value. October 2025 has no index (prices were not collected), so its 12-month rate is blank, and October 2026's will be too, because it would compare against October 2025.
Why inflation matters for your money
- Cash loses value. At 3% a year, prices double in about 23 years. Money in an account earning almost nothing loses that buying power. A high-yield savings account or I bonds can offset some or all of it; see the average savings interest rate.
- Judge returns after inflation. A 7% investment return with 3% inflation is about a 4% real return. See how inflation affects investment returns and the long-run average stock market return.
- Retirement income adjusts, or does not. Social Security rises each year with the CPI-W, a close cousin of this index; see the 2027 COLA. Many pensions and annuities do not, which is why the compound interest calculator has an inflation toggle.
About the data
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), U.S. city average, all items, 1982-84=100, not seasonally adjusted (series CUUR0000SA0): monthly values from January 1913 to August 2026 and BLS annual averages through 2025. BLS did not collect October 2025 prices because of the lapse in federal appropriations. We update the data after each monthly CPI release. Results describe average price changes, not your household's own costs, and are for general information only.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is $100 from 1913 worth today?
Using BLS CPI-U, $100 in 1913 (annual average) has the buying power of about $3,384 in August 2026, and about $3,252 in 2025 on annual averages. Prices have risen more than 33-fold since BLS began the index.
What is the current US inflation rate?
Consumer prices were 3.4% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted, our calculation from BLS index values). BLS publishes the next reading, for September 2026, on October 14, 2026.
Which data does this calculator use?
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), U.S. city average, all items, BLS series CUUR0000SA0: monthly values from January 1913 and BLS annual averages. It is the same series the BLS CPI Inflation Calculator uses.
Should I pick a month or the annual average?
Pick months when you know when the money was spent or earned, for example a salary in January 1995. Pick annual averages to compare whole years; they smooth out seasonal swings, which is why year-based calculators can differ slightly from month-based ones.
Why can I not use October 2025?
BLS did not collect prices for October 2025 because of the lapse in federal appropriations, so there is no index value for that month. Use September or November 2025, or the 2025 annual average, which BLS calculated from the other eleven months.
What was the highest inflation in US history?
On annual averages, 1918 (18.0%) and 1917 (17.4%), during World War I, then 1920, 1919, 1947 and 1980 (13.5%). In the modern era the peak was 8.0% in 2022, with the 12-month rate reaching 9.1% in June 2022.
Has the US ever had deflation?
Yes. Annual-average prices fell 10.5% in 1921 and about 9% to 10% a year in 1931 and 1932, during the Depression. The last year with a lower annual average than the year before was 2009 (down 0.4%).
Is CPI the same as my personal inflation rate?
No. CPI-U tracks the average basket of urban consumers. Your own rate depends on what you buy: a household that rents, drives a lot or spends heavily on health care can see higher or lower inflation than the index.
