Inflation Calculator
Convert dollars between any two years with real U.S. CPI data, or project inflation forward and backward at a flat rate.
What Is the Inflation Calculator?
The Inflation Calculator has three modes. U.S. CPI Data converts an amount between any two years from 1913 to 2026 using published annual-average CPI-U through 2025 and a clearly labeled 2026 year-to-date average — for example, what $1,000 in 1990 equals now. Forward Flat Rate projects what today's money will cost in the future at an assumed rate, and Backward Flat Rate shows what today's amount was equivalent to in the past. All calculations run in your browser.
How It Works
Pick a mode. For CPI, enter an amount and the two years — you'll also see the total price change and average annual inflation between them. For the flat-rate modes, enter an amount, a rate and a number of years.
When to Use It
Use CPI mode for historical questions ('what's a 1975 dollar worth today?') and the flat-rate modes for planning, retirement projections and salary negotiations.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Where does the data come from?
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U series. Published annual averages are used through 2025; 2026 is a provisional January–August average and is labeled YTD until the complete annual average is published.
- What's the difference between the three modes?
- CPI mode uses real recorded inflation between two actual years; the flat-rate modes assume one steady rate you choose — better for future projections since future CPI is unknown.
Found an issue? Send Feedback. See our data sources and update policy for tools that depend on changing information.