This US Inflation Calculator measures the buying power of the dollar over time. To use it, just enter any two dates from 1913 to 2020, an amount, and then click 'Calculate'. 2021 comparisons will be available when government inflation data for January is released on February 10.

Inflation Calculator

  If in (enter year)  
  I purchased an item for $    
  then in (enter year)  
  that same item would cost:  
  Cumulative rate of inflation:  
 
 

Learn how this calculator works. The US Inflation Calculator uses the latest US government CPI data published on January 13, 2020 to adjust for inflation and calculate the cumulative inflation rate through December 2020. The U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the Consumer Price Index (CPI) with inflation data for January on February 10, 2021. (See a chart of recent inflation rates.)


U.S. Inflation Rises 1.4% in 2020, Marking Slowest Yearly Rate Since 2015

United States inflation ticked higher in December but for 2020 it still ran at its slowest pace for a calendar year since 2015, according to a government report released Wednesday, Jan. 13. The monthly level was driven up largely by higher gas prices.

As for the year overall, energy prices fell sharply, including those for gasoline and fuel oil, while the cost of food increased significantly. Continue reading U.S. Inflation Rises 1.4% in 2020, Marking Slowest Yearly Rate Since 2015

U.S. Inflation Again Rises 1.2% Year-Over-Year; Consumer Prices Climb 0.2% in November

U.S. inflation remained tame year-over-year even as consumers in November paid a bit more on the whole for goods and services, according to a government report released Thursday, Dec. 10.

Altogether, the annual picture was the same, or much the same, for inflation, food prices, the cost of energy and for core inflation as it was in the 12-month period ending October Continue reading U.S. Inflation Again Rises 1.2% Year-Over-Year; Consumer Prices Climb 0.2% in November

Annual U.S. Inflation Rises 1.2%; Consumer Prices Unchanged in October

Inflation in the United States was subdued in October following four straight months of gains, according to a government report published Thursday, Nov. 12.

Inflation pressures eased just a bit over the past year, also, with energy prices dropping the most since the 12 months ended July. Continue reading Annual U.S. Inflation Rises 1.2%; Consumer Prices Unchanged in October

Used Vehicle Prices in September Again Drives Inflation Higher; Annual Rate at 1.4%

U.S. inflation increased for a fourth straight month in September — again lifted in great part by used vehicle prices, according to a government report published Tuesday, Oct. 13, but its pace of advance was also the slowest in those four months.

The inflation landscape over the longer 12-month period did not change significantly from the previous reading with, for example, food prices higher and energy prices lower. Continue reading Used Vehicle Prices in September Again Drives Inflation Higher; Annual Rate at 1.4%

U.S. Annual Inflation Hits 1.3%; Consumer Prices in August Climb 0.4% as Cost of Used Cars Jump to 51-Year High

U.S. consumer prices rose for a third month in a row, driven higher in large by the cost of used cars and trucks which peaked to a more than 51-year high, according to a government report published Friday, Sept. 11.

Longer term, while inflation accelerated over the past year it remains tame for the most part with energy prices still a lot lower than they were last summer. Continue reading U.S. Annual Inflation Hits 1.3%; Consumer Prices in August Climb 0.4% as Cost of Used Cars Jump to 51-Year High

U.S. Core Inflation Near 30-Year High in July but Overall Inflation Subdued

U.S. consumer prices rose more than expected in July and a measure of underlying or core inflation ran the quickest in nearly three decades, a government report published Aug. 12 shows.

In the longer term, however, while inflation accelerated over the past year it remains in check with gasoline prices significantly lower than they were last summer. Continue reading U.S. Core Inflation Near 30-Year High in July but Overall Inflation Subdued

U.S. Annual Inflation Rises 0.6%; Consumer Prices Rebound in June

U.S. consumer inflation bounced in June following three consecutive monthly declines, according to government figures released Tuesday, July 14, but underlying or core inflation remained rather subdued.

In the longer stretch, prices compared to a year ago swelled for food and declined for energy — despite a June surge in gasoline prices. Continue reading U.S. Annual Inflation Rises 0.6%; Consumer Prices Rebound in June

Rate of U.S. Inflation Slows Again as Consumer Prices Drop for Third Month in May

Impacted again by the COVID-19 pandemic, American consumers in May paid more for food and shelter and less for gasoline, clothing and travel, according to government figures released Wednesday, June 10.

Consumer prices declined overall for a third month in a row as underlying or core inflation remained weak not only for the month but from a year ago. Continue reading Rate of U.S. Inflation Slows Again as Consumer Prices Drop for Third Month in May

Core Inflation Drops by Most on Record in April; Consumer Prices Mark Biggest Decrease Since 2008

U.S. inflation declined last month as higher food prices were offset by lower gasoline, clothing, and transportation costs, a government report showed Tuesday, May 12. Consumer spending sank, for the most part, as efforts to slow the COVID-19 pandemic shattered the demand for many goods and services.

When compared against a month and year earlier, prices for food surged while they sank for energy. Stripping food and energy, core prices logged their biggest monthly decline on record in April. Continue reading Core Inflation Drops by Most on Record in April; Consumer Prices Mark Biggest Decrease Since 2008

U.S. Annual Inflation Slows to 1.5%; Consumer Prices in March Fall Most in Five Years

United States inflation slowed greatly in March as consumer prices, with the help of the coronavirus, recorded their largest decline for a month in over five years, a government report showed Friday, April 10. Lower gasoline contributed most to the overall decline. Also impacting were pricing drops for clothing, transportation and new vehicles.

Of note, core inflation, which excludes food and energy, registered a monthly decline for the first time in over ten years.

From a year ago, energy prices fell sharply, the data shows, while food prices firmed. Continue reading U.S. Annual Inflation Slows to 1.5%; Consumer Prices in March Fall Most in Five Years