Inflation Calculator: What Is Your Money Worth Now?

Is $1,358.31 the right answer?

On the defaults — $1,000.00 in 2015 converted to 2025 — the answer is $1,358.31: cumulative inflation 35.83%, about 3.11% a year, and a 2015 dollar lost 26.38% of its buying power. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), the standard measure of inflation: it tracks the price of a fixed basket of goods and services, on a 1982–84 = 100 base, and it covers about 93% of the U.S. population. The annual average is the year’s twelve monthly readings averaged — for 2025 only eleven months were published (October was skipped during the lapse in appropriations), so the 2025 average of 321.943 is the mean of those eleven. On the annual-average basis, inflation ran 8.0% in 2022, 4.1% in 2023, 2.9% in 2024 and 2.6% in 2025. The CPI is a national average — your own cost of living depends on where you live and what you buy — and it is not the same as the CPI-W, the wage-earner index Social Security uses for its cost-of-living adjustment.

Five things about the model are worth stating plainly. First, the equivalent amount is the amount times the CPI of the to year divided by the CPI of the from year — $1,000.00 × 321.943 ÷ 237.017 = $1,358.31. Second, cumulative inflation is the CPI ratio minus one, times 100 — (321.943 ÷ 237.017 − 1) × 100 = 35.83%. Third, the average annual rate is the tenth root of the ratio minus one — about 3.11% a year. Fourth, the buying-power loss is one minus the from CPI over the to CPI, times 100 — 26.38%. And fifth, the same-year and backwards rules: the same year gives the amount back unchanged, and a from year later than the to year is allowed — $1,000.00 in 2025 is $736.21 in 2015, a cumulative change of −26.38%; all listed in Accuracy & limitations.

The CPI-U table, 2010 to 2025

Annual averages from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, 1982–84 = 100. The 2025 average of 321.943 is the mean of the eleven months published that year — October was not published during the lapse in appropriations.

The worked example, line by line

Setup: $1,000.00, from 2015 to 2025.

Line 1 — the CPI values. CPI 2015 is 237.017 and CPI 2025 is 321.943.

Line 2 — the ratio. 321.943 ÷ 237.017 = 1.3583.

Line 3 — the equivalent. $1,000.00 × 1.3583 = $1,358.31.

Line 4 — cumulative inflation. (1.3583 − 1) × 100 = 35.83%.

Line 5 — average annual inflation. 1.3583^(1 ÷ 10) − 1 = 3.11% a year.

Line 6 — buying-power loss. (1 − 237.017 ÷ 321.943) × 100 = 26.38%.

Line 7 — the check. $1,000.00 in 2020 is $1,243.93 in 2025, and $1,000.00 in 2022 is $1,100.08 in 2025 — the same table, the same rule.

Every branch, checked

Amount $10,000, 2015 to 2025: Equivalent $13,583.12; cumulative inflation 35.83%; average annual inflation 3.11%; buying-power loss 26.38% — Ten times the amount means ten times the equivalent: $10,000.00 in 2015 buys what $13,583.12 buys in 2025, and the percentages are the same as the $1,000.00 case because the ratio is the same.

Amount $1,000, 2020 to 2025: Equivalent $1,243.93; cumulative inflation 24.39%; average annual inflation 4.46%; buying-power loss 19.61% — Five years of inflation from 2020 to 2025 is 24.39% in total, about 4.46% a year — the fastest five-year stretch in the table, driven by the 2021 and 2022 price rises.

Amount $1,000, 2022 to 2025: Equivalent $1,100.08; cumulative inflation 10.01%; average annual inflation 3.23%; buying-power loss 9.10% — From 2022 to 2025 prices rose 10.01% in total, about 3.23% a year: $1,000.00 from the 2022 peak buys what $1,100.08 buys in 2025.

Amount $100, 2010 to 2025: Equivalent $147.64; cumulative inflation 47.64%; average annual inflation 2.63%; buying-power loss 32.27% — Fifteen years from 2010 to 2025 is 47.64% in total, about 2.63% a year: $100.00 from 2010 buys what $147.64 buys in 2025.

Amount $1,000, 2015 to 2020: Equivalent $1,091.95; cumulative inflation 9.20%; average annual inflation 1.77%; buying-power loss 8.42% — From 2015 to 2020 prices rose only 9.20% in total, about 1.77% a year: $1,000.00 in 2015 buys what $1,091.95 buys in 2020.

Amount $50,000, 2020 to 2025: Equivalent $62,196.54; cumulative inflation 24.39%; average annual inflation 4.46%; buying-power loss 19.61% — The same 24.39% rise as the $1,000.00 case from 2020 to 2025, scaled up: $50,000.00 in 2020 buys what $62,196.54 buys in 2025.

Amount $1,000, 2010 to 2015: Equivalent $1,086.95; cumulative inflation 8.70%; average annual inflation 1.68%; buying-power loss 8.00% — Five years from 2010 to 2015 is 8.70% in total, about 1.68% a year: $1,000.00 in 2010 buys what $1,086.95 buys in 2015.

The reverses, worked backwards

Smallest whole-dollar amount in 2015 for the 2025 equivalent to reach $2,000: At the displayed $1,473 the figures are Equivalent $2,000.79; cumulative inflation 35.83%; average annual inflation 3.11%; buying-power loss 26.38%. At the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent $1,999.44; cumulative inflation 35.83%; average annual inflation 3.11%; buying-power loss 26.38% — below the target, so $1,473 is the smallest value that reaches it.

Smallest to-year for $1,000 from 2015 to reach $1,300: At the displayed 2024 the figures are Equivalent $1,323.49; cumulative inflation 32.35%; average annual inflation 3.16%; buying-power loss 24.44%. At the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent $1,285.57; cumulative inflation 28.56%; average annual inflation 3.19%; buying-power loss 22.21% — below the target, so 2024 is the smallest value that reaches it.

Largest from-year for $1,000 to be worth at least $1,200 in 2025: At the displayed 2020 the figures are Equivalent $1,243.93; cumulative inflation 24.39%; average annual inflation 4.46%; buying-power loss 19.61%. At the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent $1,188.11; cumulative inflation 18.81%; average annual inflation 4.40%; buying-power loss 15.83% — below the target, so 2020 is the smallest value that reaches it.

Smallest whole-dollar amount in 2020 for the 2025 equivalent to reach $5,000: At the displayed $4,020 the figures are Equivalent $5,000.60; cumulative inflation 24.39%; average annual inflation 4.46%; buying-power loss 19.61%. At the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent $4,999.36; cumulative inflation 24.39%; average annual inflation 4.46%; buying-power loss 19.61% — below the target, so $4,020 is the smallest value that reaches it.

First year $1,000 from 2010 reaches $1,400: At the displayed 2024 the figures are Equivalent $1,438.57; cumulative inflation 43.86%; average annual inflation 2.63%; buying-power loss 30.49%. At the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent $1,397.36; cumulative inflation 39.74%; average annual inflation 2.61%; buying-power loss 28.44% — below the target, so 2024 is the smallest value that reaches it.

Smallest whole-dollar amount in 2022 for the 2025 equivalent to reach $1,100: At the displayed $1,000 the figures are Equivalent $1,100.08; cumulative inflation 10.01%; average annual inflation 3.23%; buying-power loss 9.10%. At the lower neighbor the figures are Equivalent $1,098.98; cumulative inflation 10.01%; average annual inflation 3.23%; buying-power loss 9.10% — below the target, so $1,000 is the smallest value that reaches it.

What the defaults assume

The defaults are $1,000.00 in 2015 converted to 2025 — Equivalent $1,358.31; cumulative inflation 35.83%; average annual inflation 3.11%; buying-power loss 26.38%. With a Amount $10,000, 2015 to 2025, Equivalent $13,583.12; cumulative inflation 35.83%; average annual inflation 3.11%; buying-power loss 26.38%. With a Amount $1,000, 2020 to 2025, Equivalent $1,243.93; cumulative inflation 24.39%; average annual inflation 4.46%; buying-power loss 19.61%. With a Amount $1,000, 2022 to 2025, Equivalent $1,100.08; cumulative inflation 10.01%; average annual inflation 3.23%; buying-power loss 9.10%. With a Amount $100, 2010 to 2025, Equivalent $147.64; cumulative inflation 47.64%; average annual inflation 2.63%; buying-power loss 32.27%. With a Amount $1,000, 2015 to 2020, Equivalent $1,091.95; cumulative inflation 9.20%; average annual inflation 1.77%; buying-power loss 8.42%. With a Amount $50,000, 2020 to 2025, Equivalent $62,196.54; cumulative inflation 24.39%; average annual inflation 4.46%; buying-power loss 19.61%. With a Amount $1,000, 2010 to 2015, Equivalent $1,086.95; cumulative inflation 8.70%; average annual inflation 1.68%; buying-power loss 8.00%. With Same year, 2015 to 2015, $1,000, Equivalent $1,000.00; cumulative inflation 0.00%; average annual inflation 0.00%; buying-power loss 0.00%. With Amount $0, 2015 to 2025, Equivalent $0.00; cumulative inflation 35.83%; average annual inflation 3.11%; buying-power loss 26.38%. With Backwards, 2025 to 2015, $1,000, Equivalent $736.21; cumulative change -26.38%; average annual inflation 3.11%; buying-power gain 35.83%. With Amount $1,000,000, 2010 to 2025, Equivalent $1,476,423.49; cumulative inflation 47.64%; average annual inflation 2.63%; buying-power loss 32.27%. With Amount $100, 2010 to 2011, Equivalent $103.16; cumulative inflation 3.16%; average annual inflation 3.16%; buying-power loss 3.06%. With 2025 to 2025, $5,000, Equivalent $5,000.00; cumulative inflation 0.00%; average annual inflation 0.00%; buying-power loss 0.00%. With Amount $2,500, 2019 to 2022, Equivalent $2,861.79; cumulative inflation 14.47%; average annual inflation 4.61%; buying-power loss 12.64%.

Same year, 2015 to 2015, $1,000: Equivalent $1,000.00; cumulative inflation 0.00%; average annual inflation 0.00%; buying-power loss 0.00%.

Amount $0, 2015 to 2025: Equivalent $0.00; cumulative inflation 35.83%; average annual inflation 3.11%; buying-power loss 26.38%.

Backwards, 2025 to 2015, $1,000: Equivalent $736.21; cumulative change -26.38%; average annual inflation 3.11%; buying-power gain 35.83%.

Amount $1,000,000, 2010 to 2025: Equivalent $1,476,423.49; cumulative inflation 47.64%; average annual inflation 2.63%; buying-power loss 32.27%.

Amount $100, 2010 to 2011: Equivalent $103.16; cumulative inflation 3.16%; average annual inflation 3.16%; buying-power loss 3.06%.

2025 to 2025, $5,000: Equivalent $5,000.00; cumulative inflation 0.00%; average annual inflation 0.00%; buying-power loss 0.00%.

Amount $2,500, 2019 to 2022: Equivalent $2,861.79; cumulative inflation 14.47%; average annual inflation 4.61%; buying-power loss 12.64%.

Output · formula · meaning

Who uses this

• The renter checking an old rent: they learn $1,000.00 of rent in 2015 is $1,358.31 in 2025 — and they check the 2020 branch to see $1,000.00 from 2020 is $1,243.93.
• The saver comparing a 2010 salary to today: they learn $100.00 in 2010 is $147.64 in 2025 — and they check the $1,000,000 edge to see the same 47.64% rise at any size.
• The student citing inflation in an essay: they learn the CPI-U annual-average table runs from 218.056 in 2010 to 321.943 in 2025 — and they copy the citation block below, which names the source and the access date.
• The budgeter asking when $1,000 reaches $1,300: they learn 2024 is the first year it does — $1,323.49 — and they check the 2023 figure of $1,285.57 to see it falling just short.

Accuracy & limitations

The math is first-principles: the equivalent is the amount times the CPI ratio, rounded to cents half-up; the cumulative and average rates and the buying-power loss are computed from the unrounded CPI ratio, then rounded to two decimals. What the model cannot do is price your own basket: the CPI-U is a national average over a fixed basket, so housing-heavy or healthcare-heavy spending can rise faster or slower than the index; the table uses annual averages, not December readings, so a single month’s spike does not show; the 2025 average covers eleven published months, not twelve; and the calculator counts no taxes, wages, or investment returns — it only converts the purchasing power of a fixed amount. Use it to size the change — then check your own spending against the national average.

Frequently asked questions