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Inflation Calculator: What Is a Dollar Worth?
Find out how much money from any year since 1913 is worth in another year, using the official US Consumer Price Index.
How the inflation calculator works
It uses the yearly average of the Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. To move an amount between years: Value = Amount × CPI(to year) ÷ CPI(from year). For 2026 we use the latest monthly index available (June 2026), so that figure will be updated as the year's data comes in.
Example: $1,000 from 1990
The CPI averaged 130.7 in 1990 and 321.943 in 2025. So $1,000 × 321.943 ÷ 130.7 = $2,463. Prices rose 146% in total, which works out to about 2.6% a year compounded.
It works backwards too: $100 in 2025 had the same buying power as about $41 in 1990.
What $100 from past decades is worth today
| Year | $100 then is worth in 2026 | Average inflation per year since |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | $1,670 | 2.7% |
| 1930 | $2,000 | 3.2% |
| 1940 | $2,385 | 3.8% |
| 1950 | $1,386 | 3.5% |
| 1960 | $1,128 | 3.7% |
| 1970 | $861 | 3.9% |
| 1980 | $405 | 3.1% |
| 1990 | $256 | 2.6% |
| 2000 | $194 | 2.6% |
| 2010 | $153 | 2.7% |
| 2020 | $129 | 4.3% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U, U.S. city average, all items (1982-84=100), annual averages; 2026 is the June 2026 index.
Protecting your money from inflation
- Cash in a 0% account loses buying power every year. A high-yield savings account or Treasury bills usually keep pace with inflation.
- Series I savings bonds and TIPS are US government bonds whose value rises with the CPI.
- Over long periods, stocks have beaten inflation by about 6% to 7% a year on average, though with ups and downs.
- Ask for raises that at least match inflation; the raise calculator shows your real gain.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1,000 from 1990 worth today?
Using the official CPI, $1,000 in 1990 buys about as much as $2,463 did in 2025. Prices rose about 146% over those 35 years, an average of 2.6% a year.
What is the CPI?
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) is published monthly by the Bureau of Labor Statistics. It tracks the price of a fixed basket of goods and services that urban households buy, and it is the standard measure of US inflation.
Why does my own inflation feel different?
The CPI is an average basket. If you spend more than average on rent, insurance or childcare, which have risen faster, your personal inflation rate is higher than the headline number.
What was the highest inflation year?
Since 1913, the biggest yearly jumps in the annual average CPI were from 1917 to 1920 and in 1947, between about 14% and 18%. In modern times, 1979 to 1981 saw rates above 10%, and 2022 reached 8.0%.