Tools Inflation Calculator
What is my money worth today?
Prices rise over time, so a dollar buys less than it used to. Enter an amount and the year it’s from to see what it’s worth in today’s prices, or in any year back to 1913, using the official Consumer Price Index from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The latest figure is for August 2026.
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How this calculator works
Value then = amount × (CPI in the later period ÷ CPI in the earlier period)
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) tracks what urban households, more than 90% of the U.S. population, pay for a fixed basket of goods and services: food, housing, transportation, medical care and more. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes it every month, with an index set to 100 for the average of 1982 to 1984. If the index has doubled between two dates, $1 at the start buys what $2 buys at the end.
A whole year uses that year’s annual average: the mean of its monthly figures, the way BLS calculates it. For the current year, which isn’t finished, the calculator uses the latest month instead. The average yearly rate is the steady rate that would turn the earlier index into the later one over the time between them.
The CPI measures average prices, so your own inflation can differ: renters in a fast-rising market, or people with high medical costs, often face more. The index is not seasonally adjusted, and the figures come from the BLS Historical CPI-U table, updated each month.
Words you’ll see
- Inflation
- A general rise in prices, which means each dollar buys less than before.
- Consumer Price Index (CPI-U)
- The government’s main measure of the prices households pay, published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics since 1913.
- Buying power
- How much a dollar can buy. When prices rise 10%, a dollar’s buying power falls by about 9%.
- Real vs nominal dollars
- Nominal dollars are the amounts as written at the time; real dollars are adjusted for inflation so different years can be compared.
- Deflation
- A general fall in prices, last seen in the U.S. for a full year in 2009.
Common questions
How much is $100 in 1990 worth today?
$100 in 1990 had the same buying power as about $256 in August 2026, based on the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U). Prices rose about 156% over that time, an average of about 2.6% a year.
How does an inflation calculator work?
It multiplies your amount by the ratio of the Consumer Price Index in the two periods. For example, the CPI-U averaged 130.7 in 1990 and was 335.0 in August 2026, so prices are about 2.56 times higher and $100 then equals about $256 now.
What inflation index does this calculator use?
It uses the CPI-U, the U.S. city average for all items, published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics since 1913. It tracks the prices that urban households, more than 90% of the U.S. population, pay for a basket of goods and services. A year uses the average of its monthly figures, and the current year uses the latest month.
What is a normal inflation rate?
The Federal Reserve aims for inflation of 2% a year over the long run, measured with a related index of consumer spending. Since 2000, CPI-U inflation has averaged about 2.6% a year, but single years range widely: 13.5% in 1980 and 8.0% in 2022.
How much does inflation reduce my savings?
At 3% inflation, cash loses about a quarter of its buying power in 10 years, because $1 then buys what about 74 cents buys today. Savings keep their value only if they earn at least the inflation rate after tax.
Why is there no CPI for October 2025?
The Bureau of Labor Statistics did not collect October 2025 prices during the 2025 lapse in federal appropriations, so no CPI was published for that month. This calculator averages the other 11 months for 2025 and asks you to pick another month if you choose October 2025.
Sources
- CPI supplemental files: Historical CPI-U — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Consumer Price Index Frequently Asked Questions — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Consumer Price Index (CPI) — U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
- Why does the Federal Reserve aim for inflation of 2 percent over the longer run? — Federal Reserve Board
This tool is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not financial, tax, or legal advice. Consult a qualified professional for guidance specific to your situation.