How to use
- 1Pick the country/index (default: United States, BLS CPI-U).
- 2Enter an amount and choose the start and end period — an annual average or a specific month.
- 3Read the equivalent value, cumulative inflation, average annual inflation and loss of purchasing power.
- 4Follow the chart to see the value over time; swap the periods with one click.
How the calculation works
The result is the ratio of the price index in the two periods: equivalent value = amount × (end CPI ÷ start CPI). Cumulative inflation is that ratio minus one; average annual inflation is the compound yearly rate that produces the same ratio. Annual options use the calendar-year average index, monthly options the index for that month — use months when comparing a specific paycheck or price.
Data: BLS CPI-U since 1913
For the United States the tool uses the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, U.S. city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted, 1982-84=100) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics: annual averages from 1913 and monthly values from 2020 to the latest release. BLS publishes each month’s CPI around the middle of the following month. October 2025 has no value because BLS did not collect or publish CPI that month during the federal government shutdown.
Other countries
You can also switch to Türkiye (TÜİK CPI, 2003=100), Germany (Destatis VPI, since 1991), Spain (INE IPC, since 2002) or Russia (Rosstat CPI, since 1999). The source, base period and latest data point are always shown under the result.
Interpreting the result
CPI tracks an average household basket; your personal inflation can differ if rent, healthcare or tuition dominate your spending. The calculator shows only price changes — it does not include interest, investment returns or exchange-rate moves.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $100 from 1970 worth today?
Enter 100, choose 1970 as the start and the latest month as the end; the calculator shows the equivalent amount based on BLS CPI-U and the cumulative inflation in between.
What is the difference between cumulative and annual inflation?
Cumulative inflation is the total price increase between two dates; average annual inflation is the constant yearly rate that would produce the same total.
When is the data updated?
BLS releases CPI around the 10th–15th of each month for the previous month. The latest data month and update date are shown below the result.
Why is there no October 2025 value?
BLS did not collect or publish October 2025 CPI because of the federal government shutdown, so that month is not available.
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