Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises over time, causing the purchasing power of money to fall. It is typically measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI).

How is inflation-adjusted value calculated?

To adjust for inflation: Adjusted Value = Original Amount × (CPI in Target Year ÷ CPI in Starting Year). For example, $100 in 1990 with CPI of 130.7, adjusted to 2020 (CPI 258.8) = $100 × (258.8 / 130.7) = $197.99.

Inflation Calculator – Calculate Purchasing Power Over Time

Settings

Amount

From Year 1990

To Year 2024

Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) annual average CPI-U.

Result

$1,000 in 1990 is worth…

—

in 2024

Original amount —

CPI (1990) —

CPI (2024) —

Cumulative inflation —

Avg annual inflation —

Purchasing power change —

Purchasing Power Over Time

Historical CPI Reference (Selected Years)

Year	CPI	$100 today equals…	Annual Change

Frequently Asked Questions

What does this calculator show?

It shows the inflation-adjusted equivalent of a dollar amount across different years, using annual average US CPI-U data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Enter an amount, choose a starting year and ending year, and see how purchasing power has changed.

What is the Consumer Price Index (CPI)?

The CPI measures the average change in prices paid by urban consumers for a representative basket of goods and services — including food, housing, transportation, and medical care. It's published monthly by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics and is the most widely used measure of US inflation.

How is the inflation-adjusted value calculated?

The formula is: Adjusted Value = Amount × (CPI_target ÷ CPI_start). For example, $1,000 in 1990 (CPI: 130.7) adjusted to 2024 (CPI: 314.2) equals $1,000 × (314.2 / 130.7) ≈ $2,404.

Why does the "to" direction matter?

If you set From = 2000 and To = 2024, you're asking "What is $X from 2000 worth in today's dollars?" If you reverse it (From = 2024, To = 2000), you're asking "What would today's $X have cost in 2000?" — the result will be lower since prices were cheaper then.