🧰 ToolPicoAll Tools →

Inflation Calculator

Find out what a past dollar amount is worth today using the official US Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U index, see the cumulative and annualized inflation rate between any two years, and project a future value under your own inflation assumption.

CPI-U 1913–2024 annual + monthly since 2024 Instant results Free, no sign-up Updated: Jul 28, 2026
$
"What is $X from year A worth in year B?" — e.g. $100 from 1990 compared to 2024, the latest year in this tool's CPI-U data. Works in either direction: pick an earlier end year to see what a recent amount was worth in the past. Turn on monthly precision to compare specific months instead of annual averages — useful for the 2025–2026 period, which isn't finalized as an annual average yet.
$
%
A hypothetical projection — not BLS data. 3% is close to the long-run historical average annual CPI-U inflation rate; change it to model a different scenario.
$
$
"Is my raise keeping up with inflation?" Enter your old and new salary and the years they apply to. This tool compares your nominal raise (the plain percentage increase) against the CPI-U-implied raise needed just to maintain the same purchasing power, and shows your real (inflation-adjusted) raise.
$
%
The reverse of "Future value": deflates a recent amount back into an earlier year's dollars under a custom assumed annual rate — past value = amount ÷ (1 + rate ÷ 100)^years. Useful when you want a hypothetical historical equivalent using your own rate rather than actual CPI-U history (see "Value over time" for the actual-history version).
CPI-U trend
Quick answer To find what a past amount is worth today, multiply it by the ratio of the CPI-U index for the comparison year to the CPI-U index for the starting year: value = amount × (index_end ÷ index_start). For example, $100 from 1990 → about $240.02 in 2024 dollars (index 130.7 in 1990, 313.7 in 2024).
$240$100 from 1990 today
140%cumulative inflation, 1990→2024
2.6%annualized rate, 1990→2024
313.7CPI-U index, 2024 (latest)
⚙️ Note: This tool uses the official annual-average US CPI-U index (1913–2024), plus monthly CPI-U figures through 2026 via the monthly precision toggle; results are for informational and educational purposes only and are not financial or investment advice. The "future value" mode is a hypothetical projection based on a rate you choose, not a forecast. For the very latest monthly figures beyond what's included here, see bls.gov/cpi.
💵 Inflation Calculator — ToolPico ↗

What is CPI, and how is inflation calculated?

A complete guide — with formulas and examples — to the Consumer Price Index, the value of money over time, cumulative vs. annualized inflation, and future value projections.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) tracks the average change in prices that consumers pay for a fixed basket of goods and services — food, housing, transportation, medical care, and more. The version used by this calculator, the CPI-U (Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers), is published monthly by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and is the most widely cited measure of inflation in the United States. Because the index is just a number relative to a fixed base period (1982-84=100), it lets you compare the purchasing power of a dollar in one year against a dollar in any other year — which is exactly what "inflation calculators" like this one do.

How do you calculate what a past amount is worth today?

Quick answerMultiply the amount by the ratio of the CPI-U index for the comparison year to the CPI-U index for the starting year: value = amount × (index_end ÷ index_start). For example, using 130.7 for 1990 and 313.7 for 2024: $100 × (313.7 ÷ 130.7) = $240.02.
  • Formula: value_end = amount × (index_end ÷ index_start)
  • Example: $100 in 1970 (index 38.8) → 2024 (index 313.7): 100 × (313.7 ÷ 38.8) ≈ $808.51
  • Reverse direction: the same formula also converts a recent amount into an earlier year's dollars — just swap which year is "start" and which is "end."

What is the difference between cumulative and annualized inflation?

Quick answerCumulative inflation is the total percentage price change over the whole period: (index_end ÷ index_start − 1) × 100. Annualized inflation is the steady compound yearly rate that produces that same cumulative change: (index_end ÷ index_start)^(1 ÷ years) − 1. Between 1990 and 2024 (34 years), cumulative inflation is about 140%, but the annualized rate is only about 2.6% — a good reminder that compounding, not a single big jump, drives most long-run price change.

What is the difference between nominal and real value?

Quick answerA nominal value is the face amount at the time (e.g., "I earned $30,000 in 2005"). A real value adjusts that amount for inflation so it can be compared fairly with another year's dollars (e.g., "$30,000 in 2005 is about $47,800 in 2024 dollars"). Economists prefer real values for comparing wages, prices, or budgets across time, because a rising nominal number can still represent falling real purchasing power if inflation rises faster.

How do you project a future value with an assumed inflation rate?

Quick answerFuture value = amount × (1 + assumed annual rate ÷ 100)^number of years — the same compound-growth math as compound interest, applied to prices instead of savings. For example, $1,000 today at an assumed 3% annual inflation for 20 years grows to 1,000 × 1.03^20 ≈ $1,806.11. This is a hypothetical planning tool, not an official BLS forecast — actual future inflation could be higher or lower.

Why might CPI-U not match your own experience of rising prices?

Quick answerCPI-U is a national average across a fixed, broad basket of goods and services. Your personal cost-of-living change depends on where you live, whether you rent or own, your health care needs, and your specific spending mix — so your real-world inflation can run higher or lower than the published CPI-U rate in any given year, even though CPI-U remains the standard national benchmark.

What $100 from the past is worth today (example table)

Illustrative examples using this tool's CPI-U data, with 2024 (index 313.7) as the comparison year. For exact figures and any amount or year pair, use the calculator above.

$100 from a past year, converted to 2024 dollars
YearCPI-U index$100 then = today
193016.7$1,878.44
195024.1$1,301.66
197038.8$808.51
198082.4$380.70
1990130.7$240.02
2000172.2$182.17
2010218.1$143.83
2020258.8$121.21

Popular calculations

Historical CPI-U index table (1913–2024)

Annual-average US CPI-U index values (base period 1982-84=100), year-over-year change, and the multiplier needed to convert that year's dollars into 2024 dollars. Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Data current through calendar year 2024 — the most recent full year with a finalized annual average at the time this table was compiled. For 2025/2026 monthly figures, see bls.gov/cpi.

Add this calculator to your site (embed code)

Embed the inflation calculator on your own website for free. Copy the code below into your HTML — the tool runs in a simplified view and links back to this page as its source.

The embedded tool has a fixed layout; you can adjust the height value to fit your site. No ads or personal data, runs entirely client-side.

Inflation terms glossary

Short definitions of the core terms used in inflation and cost-of-living calculations.

CPIConsumer Price Index — a measure of the average change over time in prices paid by consumers for a fixed basket of goods and services.
CPI-UConsumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers — the specific CPI series used by this calculator; it covers roughly 93% of the US population.
Base periodThe reference period (1982-84=100) that all CPI-U index values are measured against. An index of 200 means prices are twice their base-period level.
Purchasing powerThe amount of goods or services a unit of currency can buy. It falls as prices rise (inflation) and rises as prices fall (deflation).
Nominal valueThe face value of an amount of money at the time, with no adjustment for inflation.
Real valueA value adjusted for inflation and expressed in a chosen year's dollars, making fair comparisons across time possible.
Cumulative inflationThe total percentage price increase between two dates, regardless of how many years it took.
Annualized rateThe steady compound yearly rate that, applied every year, produces the same cumulative result — comparable to a compound annual growth rate (CAGR).
DeflationA sustained decrease in the general price level. The CPI-U index itself fell slightly in a few years, such as 1930–1933 and 2009.
Consumer basketThe fixed set of representative goods and services — food, housing, transportation, medical care, and more — whose combined price change the CPI tracks every month.

In-depth guides

Step-by-step explanations of the most commonly confused inflation questions.

How to calculate what $100 from 1990 is worth today (step by step)

Step 1: Look up the CPI-U index for both years — 1990 is 130.7, and 2024 (the latest year in this tool's data) is 313.7.
Step 2: Divide the end-year index by the start-year index → 313.7 ÷ 130.7 = 2.4002.
Step 3: Multiply by the amount → $100 × 2.4002 = $240.02.
Step 4: Interpret → $100 in 1990 had the same purchasing power as about $240.02 in 2024, meaning cumulative inflation over those 34 years was about 140%.

You can see this instantly by entering 100, 1990, and 2024 in the "Value over time" tab above.

Cumulative vs. annualized inflation — why they're not the same number

Cumulative inflation over the 1990–2024 span is about 140% — a large-sounding number because it covers 34 years. The annualized (compound annual) rate for the same span is only about 2.6%, calculated as (313.7 ÷ 130.7)^(1 ÷ 34) − 1. Both numbers describe the exact same price change; cumulative tells you the total effect, annualized tells you the steady yearly pace that would produce that same total effect through compounding.

This matters when comparing periods of different length: a 34-year span with 140% cumulative inflation (2.6%/yr) can represent a milder pace than a 5-year span with "only" 25% cumulative inflation (4.6%/yr).

Why CPI-U might not match your own cost-of-living increase

CPI-U is a national average built from a fixed, broad basket of goods and services purchased by a representative urban household. Your own experience can differ because of your location (regional price differences), housing situation (renting vs. owning, and where), health care needs, age, and your specific mix of spending. A household spending heavily on housing or medical care in a high-cost metro area may experience higher-than-average inflation, while a household with a different spending mix may experience lower.

This doesn't make CPI-U "wrong" — it remains the standard, consistent national benchmark used for wage negotiations, Social Security cost-of-living adjustments, and economic policy. It just means your personal inflation rate and the published CPI-U rate can legitimately differ.

Frequently asked questions

How do you calculate inflation between two years?
Look up the CPI-U index value for both years, then use: value in end year = amount × (index of end year ÷ index of start year). Cumulative inflation is (index of end year ÷ index of start year − 1) × 100. Using 130.7 for 1990 and 313.7 for 2024, $100 from 1990 is worth about $240.02 in 2024 dollars — about 140% cumulative inflation.
What is the CPI-U?
CPI-U stands for the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, published monthly by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. It tracks the average change in prices paid by urban consumers for a fixed basket of goods and services (food, housing, transportation, medical care, and more) and is the most commonly cited measure of US inflation. This calculator uses its annual-average index values, base period 1982-84=100.
How much is $100 from 1990 worth today?
Using the annual-average CPI-U index (130.7 for 1990, 313.7 for 2024, the latest year in this tool's data), $100 from 1990 is worth approximately $240.02 in 2024 dollars — about 140% cumulative inflation, or roughly 2.6% average annual inflation, over those 34 years.
What is the difference between cumulative and annualized inflation?
Cumulative inflation is the total percentage price change between two dates, regardless of the number of years. Annualized (compound annual) inflation is the steady yearly rate that, compounded every year, produces that same cumulative result: (index_end ÷ index_start)^(1 ÷ years) − 1. A large cumulative number over many decades can correspond to a modest annualized rate.
What is the difference between nominal and real value?
Nominal value is the face amount of money at the time, with no adjustment for inflation. Real value is that same amount adjusted for inflation and expressed in the purchasing power of a chosen reference year, which makes it possible to fairly compare amounts from different time periods. This calculator converts a nominal amount from one year into its real, inflation-adjusted equivalent in another year.
Why doesn't CPI-U match my own cost of living increase?
CPI-U is a national average built from a fixed, broad basket of goods and services. Your personal inflation rate can differ because of your location, housing situation (renter vs. homeowner), health, age, and spending mix — someone who spends heavily on housing or medical care in a high-cost region may experience higher-than-average inflation, while someone with a different spending mix may experience lower.
How do you project a future value using an assumed inflation rate?
Future value = amount × (1 + assumed annual rate ÷ 100)^number of years. This is a hypothetical compounding projection based on a rate you choose (often the long-run historical CPI-U average of roughly 3% per year) — it is not a BLS forecast, and actual future inflation may differ significantly.
What years does this calculator cover?
This tool includes annual-average CPI-U index values from 1913 through 2024, the most recent full calendar year with a finalized annual average. For 2025 and 2026, which don't have a finalized annual average yet, switch on monthly precision to compare individual months using the not-seasonally-adjusted CPI-U index through the latest published month. For even more recent figures, see bls.gov/cpi.
Is CPI the same thing as the inflation rate?
Not quite. The CPI is an index number that tracks the price level itself. The "inflation rate" is the percentage change in that index over a period of time (usually year-over-year or month-over-month). In other words, CPI is the measurement, and the inflation rate is the rate of change calculated from it.
Can I see a chart of the CPI-U trend for my selected period?
Yes. After calculating a value in the "Value over time" tab, a trend chart appears below the result showing every CPI-U data point between your chosen start and end period — including individual months when monthly precision is on. Use the chart toggle to switch between plotting the raw CPI-U index and the equivalent dollar value at each point, and hover or focus any point on the line for its exact figure.

Methodology & sources

ToolPico's Inflation Calculator is a free, independent tool. It uses the official annual-average Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), US city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted, index reference base 1982-84=100, as published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). The "value over time" calculation uses value = amount × (index_end ÷ index_start); cumulative inflation is (index_end ÷ index_start − 1) × 100; the annualized rate compounds that ratio over the number of years using (index_end ÷ index_start)^(1 ÷ years) − 1. The "future value" mode is a simple hypothetical compounding calculation, amount × (1 + assumed_rate ÷ 100)^years — it is not based on BLS data and does not predict actual future inflation. All calculations run instantly client-side (in your browser); no data is sent to a server.

Data coverage: annual-average CPI-U index values from 1913 through 2024, plus not-seasonally-adjusted monthly CPI-U index values from January 2024 through the latest published month (available via the monthly precision toggle in the "Value over time" tab), which closes the gap until 2025/2026 have a finalized annual average. For figures more recent than what's included here, see bls.gov/cpi. Last updated: July 28, 2026. Results are for informational and educational purposes only and do not constitute financial or investment advice; for decisions with real financial consequences, consult the official BLS data and a qualified professional.

🔗 Add this tool to your site

Copy the code below into your own site. The tool is free, always up to date, and runs entirely on your page. No sign-up required.

Preview →
⚡ Built with ToolPico · toolpico.com