Where does the inflation data come from?

CPI-U (Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers) published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. We interpolate between published anchor years for months/partial years — good enough for personal finance, not precise enough for legal contracts.

Why is inflation different from the "cost of living" in my city?

CPI tracks a national basket of goods and services. Individual cities see very different housing, transit, and wage trajectories — San Francisco rent inflation has dwarfed national CPI for two decades, for example. For local comparisons, use a cost-of-living index instead.

What counts as "high" inflation historically?

Since 1914, US annual inflation has averaged about 3.2%. Anything over 5% for more than a year is historically unusual; the 1970s–early 1980s saw peaks above 13%. 2021–2022 was the highest sustained stretch since then.

Should I trust CPI as the "real" inflation rate?

CPI has known limitations: substitution bias, housing owner-equivalent-rent methodology, and exclusion of asset prices (stocks, real estate). It's the standard reference but many economists argue real lived inflation — especially for renters and lower-income households — can run higher.

Money & Finance · Free tool

Inflation Calculator

Estimate how inflation erodes value over time by entering amount, rate, and years to see future worth in today's money instantly online—no registration.

Updated June 2026

Amount ($)Start yearEnd year

Equivalent value

$381.55

Total inflation

281.55%

Annualized rate

3.09%

Uses approximate US CPI-U annual averages (1914–2024) with linear interpolation between anchor years.

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What it does

Adjust historical US dollar amounts for inflation between 1914 and today using CPI-based approximations. Enter an amount, a start year, and an end year — the calculator shows what that money would be worth in today's terms (or any other year), plus the total and annualized inflation rate for the period.

Values are linearly interpolated between anchor years, so results are estimates, not official BLS figures. Still, it's close enough for context: salary comparisons across decades, property value trends, or thinking about long-term savings goals. See also compound interest for the flip side — how investments can outpace inflation over time.

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Example input & output

Input

Amount: $1,000
Start year: 2000
End year: 2024

Output

Equivalent today: $1,820
Total inflation: 82%
Annualized rate: 2.5%

A $1,000 bill in 2000 has the same purchasing power as about $1,820 in 2024 — inflation roughly doubled the price level over 24 years.

How to use it

Enter the original dollar amount.
Pick the start year (year of the original amount).
Pick the end year (what year to translate it into).
Review the equivalent value, total inflation, and annualized rate.

When to use this tool

Comparing a starting salary from 10+ years ago to today's job market.
Deciding whether a historical property, artwork, or purchase was a "good deal."
Setting retirement targets in today's dollars (then translating forward).
Analyzing whether a long-term contract needs a COLA clause.

When not to use it

Forecasting future inflation — this tool only covers past years. Use compound interest with an assumed inflation rate for projections.
Region-specific cost-of-living comparisons — inflation tracks a national CPI basket, not rent or groceries in a specific city.
International currency comparisons — this is US dollar only.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the inflation data come from?: CPI-U (Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers) published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. We interpolate between published anchor years for months/partial years — good enough for personal finance, not precise enough for legal contracts.
Why is inflation different from the "cost of living" in my city?: CPI tracks a national basket of goods and services. Individual cities see very different housing, transit, and wage trajectories — San Francisco rent inflation has dwarfed national CPI for two decades, for example. For local comparisons, use a cost-of-living index instead.
What counts as "high" inflation historically?: Since 1914, US annual inflation has averaged about 3.2%. Anything over 5% for more than a year is historically unusual; the 1970s–early 1980s saw peaks above 13%. 2021–2022 was the highest sustained stretch since then.
Should I trust CPI as the "real" inflation rate?: CPI has known limitations: substitution bias, housing owner-equivalent-rent methodology, and exclusion of asset prices (stocks, real estate). It's the standard reference but many economists argue real lived inflation — especially for renters and lower-income households — can run higher.

Learn more

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