Inflation Calculator
Measure how inflation changes purchasing power over time using official historical U.S. CPI data or a custom annual inflation rate.
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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Copy this code snippet to add the Inflation Calculator to your blog or website for free. It adjusts dynamically to mobile and desktop screens.
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
This calculator uses the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) for historical inflation data. CPI-U is the most widely cited measure of US consumer price inflation.
"Equivalent future cost" shows how much a specific amount today will cost in the future if inflation continues at a given rate. "Purchasing power" shows how much less a future amount will buy compared to today. Both use the same underlying CPI formula but answer opposite questions.
The historical data is based on US CPI-U figures. For other countries, the calculator can still estimate future values if you manually enter that country's average inflation rate, but historical lookups will reflect US data only.
For historical calculations, results are accurate based on official BLS CPI-U data. For future projections, accuracy depends entirely on your inflation rate assumption — no one can predict future inflation with certainty. Results are estimates for planning purposes.
No. All calculations run in your browser. No data is transmitted to any server or stored anywhere.
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