US Inflation & Purchasing Power Calculator (CPI)
Calculate historical purchasing power changes and cumulative inflation from 1913 to 2026 using official US Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI data.
Calculated Results
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Consumer Price Index (CPI)?
The Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), published monthly by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), measures the average change over time in prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of goods and services (food, housing, energy, healthcare, transportation).
How do you calculate historical inflation between two years?
The formula is: Value in Target Year = Value in Past Year × (CPI in Target Year / CPI in Past Year). For example, if CPI was 172.2 in 2000 and 317.2 in 2026, $1,000 in 2000 has the equivalent purchasing power of $1,000 × (317.2 / 172.2) = $1,842 in 2026.
What has been the long-term average inflation rate in the US?
Over the past 100 years, the US inflation rate has averaged approximately 3.1% annually. The Federal Reserve maintains an official long-term inflation target of 2.0%.
How does inflation erode cash savings?
Because of compound inflation, cash kept under a mattress or in a zero-interest checking account loses half its real purchasing power in approximately 24 years at 3% inflation, necessitating investment in equities, real estate, or inflation-protected securities (TIPS).