How the inflation calculator works
It uses the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), which the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has tracked since 1913. The index measures what a typical basket of goods and services costs. Comparing the index in two years shows how much prices changed.
Example: the CPI averaged 172.2 in 2000 and 321.943 in 2025. So $100 in 2000 buys what $100 × 321.943 ÷ 172.2 = $186.96 bought in 2025. Prices rose 87% in 25 years, about 2.5% a year.
Years before 2026 use the annual average CPI. 2026 uses the latest monthly figure, October 2026, and is updated as new data comes out.
What $100 from past years is worth in 2025
| Year | CPI | $100 then equals in 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | 20 | $1,609.71 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | $1,335.86 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | $1,087.65 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | $829.75 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | $390.71 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | $246.32 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | $186.96 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | $147.64 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | $124.39 |
Prices haven't risen evenly. Inflation ran above 10% a year in the late 1970s and in 1980, fell to around 2% for most of the 2010s, then jumped to 8% in 2022. Prices also fell in the early 1930s, during the Great Depression.
Frequently asked questions
What is $1 from 1950 worth today?
About $13.36 in 2025 dollars, based on the CPI rising from 24.1 to 321.943.
What is the average rate of inflation in the U.S.?
Since 1913, prices have risen about 3.2% a year on average. Over the last 30 years it has been closer to 2.5%.
Does the CPI include housing and food?
Yes. The CPI-U covers food, housing, clothing, transportation, medical care, recreation, education and other goods and services bought by urban consumers, about 93% of the U.S. population.
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