Inflation Calculator

See what a past dollar is worth in a later year with CPI-U. Enter an amount and two periods. An estimate, not advice.

Amount ($) *

Starting period *

Ending period *

Smart Tips

• 1913 through 2025 use the annual average. August 2026 uses that month's index, 334.980, because 2026 does not have an annual average yet.

• October 2025 was not published. The 2025 annual average, 321.943, is the BLS average of the 11 months that were published.

• The same period returns the amount you entered. An earlier ending period shows the older dollar, which can be smaller.

• A household that spends more on shelter or medical care than the CPI-U basket can see a different change than this index.

The Formula

Equivalent = Amount × (CPI later ÷ CPI earlier)

CPI Index level
CUUR0000SA0, 1982–84 = 100

Amount Starting dollars
The sum you want to restate

Later Ending index
Annual average, or August 2026

Earlier Starting index
Annual average, or August 2026

Cumulative change is the later index divided by the earlier index, minus 1. Dollar change is the equivalent amount minus the amount you entered. Nothing is fetched when you calculate.

Key Insights

Annual, then the latest month

Full years use the annual average column. The newest point is the August 2026 monthly index.

Not a personal price index

CPI-U prices a national urban basket. Your rent, tuition, or medical bills can move differently.

Direction can reverse

Choosing an earlier ending period divides by a higher index and returns fewer dollars.

October 2025 is blank

BLS did not publish October 2025. The 2025 annual figure averages the months that exist.

CPI-U reference, recent years

Period	Index
2016	240.007
2017	245.120
2018	251.107
2019	255.657
2020	258.811
2021	270.970
2022	292.655
2023	304.702
2024	313.689
2025	321.943
August 2026	334.980

Frequently Asked Questions

The page uses CPI-U, all items, U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted, series CUUR0000SA0, base 1982–84 = 100. Years 1913 through 2025 are the annual averages. August 2026 is the latest monthly index on the series page opened 14 October 2026, which is 334.980. The 2025 annual average is 321.943.

BLS had not published a 2026 annual average when this series was copied. January through August 2026 are on the monthly table, and August is the latest of those months. Choosing August 2026 uses 334.980, not an average of the eight months.

The BLS table marks October 2025 unavailable because of the 2025 lapse in appropriations. The published 2025 annual average, 321.943, is the average of the 11 months that were published.

Yes. The same division runs in either direction. A later index that is lower than the starting index, which happened in some deflation years, reduces the equivalent amount.

No. CPI-U is an average urban basket. A household weighted toward shelter, tuition, or medical care can move faster or slower than this all-items index. The result is an estimate, not a cost-of-living ruling.

Annual averages for 1913 through 2025 and the August 2026 index are CPI-U series CUUR0000SA0, taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics time series extracted on 14 October 2026. Equivalent dollars equal the amount times the later index divided by the earlier index. The series is bundled in the page. There is no runtime fetch.

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Equivalent amount

Enter values to calculate

Cumulative change

Dollar change

Note:This is an estimate from CPI-U all items, U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted. It is not the inflation rate for your own basket of rent, food, or medical care, and it is not financial advice.