Inflation Calculator
Convert dollar amounts across any years from 1913 to 2025 using real BLS CPI-U annual averages. See cumulative inflation percentage and average annual inflation rate for any period.
The U.S. inflation calculator converts dollar amounts between any two years using the Bureau of Labor Statistics Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, series CUUR0000SA0) annual averages, 1913–2025. The CPI-U base period is 1982–84 = 100. Formula: equivalent value = original amount × (CPI_target / CPI_start).
The BLS publishes monthly CPI data (typically the second week of the following month) and annual averages derived from 12 monthly readings. Annual averages are used here because they smooth seasonal variation and are the standard for year-over-year historical comparisons. Current CPI-U: 321.5 (Apr 2026, BLS series CUUR0000SA0 preliminary).
Worked example: $100 in 1980 → 2025. CPI 1980 = 82.4; CPI 2025 = 315.6. Equivalent = $100 × (315.6 / 82.4) = $383.01 — a cumulative inflation of 283%, or 3.07% annualized over 45 years.
How to use this calculator
- Enter the dollar amount you want to convert.
- Select the starting year and target year (both between 1913 and 2025).
- The result shows the equivalent value, cumulative inflation, and average annual rate.
- Reverse the years to convert from past purchasing power to today's dollars.
- Source data: BLS CPI-U series CUUR0000SA0 annual averages (published monthly via BLS data release at bls.gov/cpi/).
Formula and assumptions
The calculation is a direct ratio of CPI-U index values. The CPI-U base period is 1982–84 = 100 (BLS series CUUR0000SA0), but any two years' values can be compared via ratio — the base cancels out.
equivalentValue = amount × (CPI_target / CPI_start) cumulativeInflation = (CPI_target / CPI_start) - 1 avgAnnualRate = (CPI_target / CPI_start)^(1 / years) - 1 Data: BLS CPI-U annual averages, 1913–2025 (series CUUR0000SA0)
- CPI series
- CPI-U All Items, U.S. City Average (CUUR0000SA0)
- Annual averages
- 12-month average index values — not point-in-time (BLS methodology)
- Base period
- 1982–84 = 100 (per BLS)
- 2025
- Latest full year available; 2026 not yet in dataset
- Refresh cadence
- We re-pull CPI-U monthly when BLS publishes the prior month's data
Worked example
$100 in 2000 → 2025 (CPI 172.2 → 315.6, BLS CUUR0000SA0)
Decade-by-decade purchasing power
What $1,000 at the start of each decade is worth in 2025 dollars, using BLS CPI-U annual averages (series CUUR0000SA0). The 1930s deflation explains why $1,000 in 1930 goes further in 2025 equivalent terms than $1,000 in 1920.
| Decade start | CPI-U (annual avg) | $1,000 then = today |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 20.0 | $15,780 |
| 1930 | 16.7 | $18,898 |
| 1940 | 14.0 | $22,543 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | $13,094 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | $10,662 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | $8,134 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | $3,830 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | $2,414 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | $1,833 |
| 2010 | 218.1 | $1,447 |
| 2020 | 258.8 | $1,219 |
CPI-U 2025 annual average: 315.6 (BLS series CUUR0000SA0).
Limitations
- CPI-U measures an urban consumer basket — rural or specific category inflation may differ (BLS publishes regional CPI-U separately).
- Annual averages do not capture intra-year price changes.
- Data ends at 2025 — 2026 annual average data is not yet available from BLS.
- CPI is not a perfect proxy for any individual's actual cost of living.
- Chained CPI-U and PCE (Federal Reserve's preferred measure) can differ materially over long horizons.
Frequently asked questions
This calculator uses BLS CPI-U annual averages from 1913–2025 (series CUUR0000SA0) to convert purchasing power across years. $100 in 2000 equals about $183 in 2025 — 83.3% cumulative inflation, or 2.46% per year on average.
Recent updates
- May 2026Added decade-by-decade purchasing-power table and Current CPI-U badge (Apr 2026: 321.5).
- Jan 2026Dataset JSON-LD added (BLS CPI-U annual averages 1913–2025, series CUUR0000SA0).
- Jan 20262025 full-year CPI-U annual average (315.6) added to dataset from BLS release.