US Inflation Calculator
BLS CPI-U, 1913 to present.
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How the inflation adjustment works
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) measures the average change in the prices a typical urban household pays for a fixed basket of goods and services — groceries, rent, transportation, medical care, and the like. Each year carries an index level, and the change between two years' levels is what we call inflation.
To convert a dollar amount across years, the calculator multiplies it by the ratio of the two index levels: the value in year B equals the amount × (CPI in year B ÷ CPI in year A). The result reflects how many of today's dollars it takes to buy what the original amount bought — purchasing power, not market value.
CPI is a national average, so it smooths over how individual households actually spend. Your personal inflation depends on your own mix of housing, fuel, food, and care. The index also has limits: the basket's composition shifts over time, and it does not fully capture substitution — buying chicken when beef gets expensive — so long-span comparisons are best read as approximations rather than exact equivalents.
Inflation FAQ
- What is CPI?
- CPI is the Consumer Price Index. CPI-U, the version this calculator uses, tracks the average change over time in the prices a typical urban household pays for a fixed basket of goods and services — food, housing, transportation, medical care, apparel, and more. It is the most widely used inflation measure in the United States.
- How is the inflation adjustment calculated?
- The value in the target year equals the original amount multiplied by the ratio of the two years' index levels: value = amount × (CPI in target year ÷ CPI in original year). Because CPI rises over time, an amount converted to a later year buys the same basket but shows a higher dollar figure.
- Why is my personal inflation different from CPI?
- CPI-U is a national average built from one fixed basket weighted to represent all urban households together. Your own spending mix is different — if you rent, drive a lot, or have heavy medical or tuition costs, the prices that matter most to you can rise faster or slower than the headline index. CPI describes the average household, not any single one.
- Where does this data come from?
- Annual averages of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, series CUUR0000SA0) published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. CPI-U is the most widely used inflation measure in the United States.
- What years does this cover?
- The calculator spans BLS CPI-U from 1913 through the most recent published year. The latest year is provisional and is revised as new monthly data is released; older years are settled annual averages. Use the calculator above to pick any start and end year in that range.
Full data sources and formulas: /sources.
Estimate only — not professional advice. Calculation uses BLS CPI-U series CUUR0000SA0 (US city average, all items). CPI-U is one of several inflation measures; PCE and the chained CPI track somewhat differently. For investment or contract decisions, consult a qualified professional. Full year-by-year table →
Sources
Last reviewed: · Reviewed by R. Bennett, Editor · editorial policy