United States Inflation Calculator guide
United States Inflation Calculator: What Are Old Dollars Worth Today?
Use our United States inflation calculator to see what US dollars from any year since 1913 are worth today, using the US Consumer Price Index (CPI-U).
By the AllCalculator editorial teamUpdated 15 October 20262 min read
A dollar today doesn't buy what it did in your grandparents' day. Our United States Inflation Calculator shows what an amount of US dollars from any year since 1913 is worth in another year, using official US price data.
How it works
The calculator uses the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), published by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics. It tracks the price of a typical basket of goods and services. To adjust an amount for inflation:
Value in later year = amount × CPI in later year ÷ CPI in earlier year
The calculator uses annual average CPI figures, which smooth out month-to-month changes.
How to use the calculator (United States Inflation Calculator)
- Enter the amount in dollars.
- Enter the year the amount is from.
- Enter the year you want to compare with.
You'll see the equivalent value, the total inflation between the two years and the average yearly rate.
A worked example
With the calculator's default settings, $100 in 2000:
- CPI in 2000: 172.2
- CPI in 2025: 321.9
- $100 × 321.9 ÷ 172.2 = $186.93
Prices rose about 87% over 25 years, an average of about 2.5% a year.
US inflation through history
- 1920s and 1930s: prices fell during parts of the Great Depression, which is called deflation.
- 1970s and early 1980s: inflation reached double figures after the oil shocks.
- 2021 to 2023: inflation rose sharply after the pandemic, peaking at around 9% in 2022.
US or UK inflation?
This calculator is for US dollars and US prices. For pounds and UK prices, use our Inflation Calculator, which uses UK inflation. To convert today's dollars into pounds, try our USD to British Pound Calculator.
Frequently asked questions
What is $1 from 1950 worth today?
About $13 in 2025 dollars, because CPI rose from 24.1 in 1950 to 321.9 in 2025.
What's the difference between CPI and inflation?
CPI is an index of prices. Inflation is the rate at which that index rises, usually measured over a year.
Why is the latest year an estimate?
The annual average isn't final until December's figure is published, so the current year uses an estimate until then.
Inflation adds up quickly over decades. Use the United States Inflation Calculator to put old prices, salaries and savings into today's terms.
Sources and further reading
- US Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Indexbls.gov
- Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis: Consumer Price Index, 1913–minneapolisfed.org
Links open official and independent websites in a new tab.
This guide is general information to help you understand your options. It isn't financial, tax, legal or building advice and doesn't take your personal circumstances into account. Figures were checked when the guide was last updated and can change, so confirm anything important with GOV.UK, HMRC, a regulated adviser or a qualified tradesperson.