About This Calculator ▾
Enter any dollar amount and year range to see its inflation-adjusted equivalent. The result answers the question: "How much would $X in year A cost in year B?" — or what your money was worth in the past.
All data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U series — the official measure of consumer price inflation for all urban households. Annual averages are used (not seasonally adjusted), covering 1913 through 2024. This same CPI data drives the COLA adjustments modeled in the Social Security Break-Even Calculator. To see what your dollar buys in real assets today, visit the Value of $1 tracker.
Inflation-Adjusted Equivalent
—
Purchasing Power Over Time
Equivalent value in current-year dollars
Year-by-Year Breakdown
| Year |
Equivalent Value |
Cumulative Inflation |
Annual Rate |
Data source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U (All Urban Consumers, All Items, 1982–84 = 100).
Annual averages 1913–2024.
bls.gov/cpi/data.htm
Methodology: Equivalent = Amount × CPI(to year) ÷ CPI(from year). Annual averages are used (not seasonally adjusted).
Results represent average purchasing power for the full calendar year, not a specific month.
Limitations: CPI-U measures price changes for a fixed market basket of goods — your personal inflation rate will differ based on spending patterns, location, and the specific goods you buy. Healthcare, education, and housing costs have historically inflated faster than CPI-U. Data covers 1913–2024 only; calculations outside this range are not supported. CPI data may be revised by the BLS after initial release.
Not shown: Asset price inflation (housing, stocks), wage growth, regional variation, or category-specific inflation.
For educational purposes only — not financial or investment advice.