Inflation Calculator
Calculate historical purchasing power changes using official U.S. CPI data (1913–2024) or project future purchasing power based on estimated annual inflation rates.
Inflation estimate based on annual-average U.S. CPI-U data (1913–2024)
Parameters
CPI data through 2024, sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
This calculator provides estimates for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Historical CPI data sourced from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Projection mode assumes a constant annual inflation rate and does not account for variable economic conditions.
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How to Use Inflation Calculator
Inflation Calculator Formula / How It Works
Historical mode measures changes in the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Future mode applies compound growth calculations to estimate cumulative price increases over a specified time horizon.
For example, ,000 in 1990 has the equivalent purchasing power of ,403.21 in 2024 due to a cumulative inflation increase of 140.32%.
Frequently Asked Questions
Historical inflation calculations use annual average Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) data published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) covering 1913 through 2024.
Equivalent Future Cost calculates how much money you will need in the future to match today's buying power. Purchasing Power calculates how much goods today's fixed dollar amount will buy in the future.
Yes, negative inflation (deflation) occurs when prices decrease over time. Our Future Projection calculator supports deflation rates down to -5% per year.
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