Inflation Calculator
$1,000 in 1990 equals
$2,529
in 2026 dollars · CPI-U 130.7 → 330.5
Total change
+152.87%
Per year
2.61%
Multiplier
2.53×
Fastest single year: 2022 at +8.01%. Inflation is uneven — averages hide the spikes that hurt most.
Purchasing power through the decades
| Year | CPI-U | Value of $1,000 |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | 130.7 | $1,000 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | $1,318 |
| 2010 | 218.1 | $1,669 |
| 2020 | 258.8 | $1,980 |
| 2026 | 330.5 | $2,529 |
Every tenth year plus the endpoint. CPI-U annual averages, 1982–84 = 100.
Note: 2026 uses a January–September partial-year average of CPI-U (BLS), not a full-year figure. Data through September 2026; the latest single-month index is 336.940. 2025 values are annual averages pending the BLS annual confirmation.
Type any amount and two years — 1913 to 2026 — and see what it's worth on the other side, plus the average annual inflation rate hiding inside the change. That average is the number to hold against any investment return you're offered.
Inflation is an average, not a law of nature. The Consumer Price Index tracks a fixed basket — housing, food, transport, medical care — weighted by what a typical urban household spends. Your household isn't typical. If you rent in a fast-growing city or pay for childcare, your personal inflation runs several points above the headline. Own a fixed-rate mortgage and drive little, and it runs below. Neither is wrong; they're just your basket.
Equivalent = Amount × (CPI_target / CPI_start)- CPI_start
- index value in the starting year
- CPI_target
- index value in the comparison year
What $1 in 1990 is worth today
The CPI-U averaged 130.7 in 1990 and stands near 330.5 in 2026. Dividing one by the other gives a multiplier of about 2.53, so $1 of 1990 purchasing power is roughly $2.53 today. Framed the other way, $100,000 today buys what about $39,500 bought in 1990. Across those 36 years the compound annual rate works out to about 2.6% — unremarkable in any single year, devastating over a working lifetime.
| Year | CPI-U | 2026 equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 38.8 | $852 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | $401 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | $253 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | $192 |
| 2010 | 218.1 | $152 |
| 2020 | 258.8 | $128 |
| 2026 | 330.5 | $100 |
Calculated as $100 × (CPI 2026 ÷ CPI that year).
Why your inflation rate is not the headline rate
The index is a weighted average of urban households. If you rent in a fast-growing city, hold a large healthcare bill, or have children in childcare, your personal basket is heavier in categories that have historically risen faster than the index. Conversely, if you own a home with a fixed-rate mortgage and drive little, your exposure to the fastest-rising components is smaller. The practical implication: use the official index for long-run comparisons, but budget from your own category-level spending.
Using inflation to read real returns
A savings account paying 4% during a year of 5% inflation loses 1% of purchasing power. This is why every investment comparison worth making is a real comparison: subtract inflation from the nominal return, or divide the ending value by the cumulative index change. Over long horizons the gap compounds — a 7% nominal return at 3% inflation delivers roughly 3.9% real growth, not 4%.
What the CPI does not tell you
- It is a national urban average — prices in your metro can diverge sharply, especially for housing.
- It does not measure asset prices. House prices and stock indices can inflate without moving CPI much.
- Substitution effects are baked in: the basket shifts toward cheaper alternatives as relative prices change.
- Quality adjustments mean a 2026 dollar often buys a better product, not just more of the same one.
- Regional CPIs exist but are noisier and published less frequently.
Sources & review
Reviewed by The Numberridge Editorial Team
Fact-checked · methodology documented
CPI methodology, seasonal adjustment handling and historical price series follow BLS publication notes.
Last updated October 2026
Frequently asked questions
What is the inflation calculator based on?
The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), series CUUR0000SA0, published monthly by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. We use annual averages so any two years can be compared on a consistent basis.
How much has inflation risen since 1990?
Prices are roughly 2.5 times higher: the CPI-U averaged 130.7 in 1990 and is near 330.5 in 2026. That works out to about 2.6% a year compounded, meaning $1 of 1990 purchasing power equals about $2.53 today.
Why is my personal inflation rate different?
CPI is a weighted average for urban households. If your spending is concentrated in categories that rose faster — rent, childcare, healthcare, education — your rate will run higher. Homeowners with fixed mortgages and low transport costs often experience less.
Does the CPI include house prices?
Not directly. It measures the cost of housing services — rent and owners' equivalent rent — rather than purchase prices. That is a major reason asset-price inflation can run far ahead of consumer price inflation without appearing in the headline index.
What is the difference between nominal and real?
Nominal is the number on the statement; real is that number adjusted for price changes. A 4% raise during 5% inflation is a 1% pay cut in real terms. Every long-run financial comparison is more honest in real terms.
How do I calculate the average inflation rate between two years?
Take the ratio of the later CPI to the earlier CPI, raise it to the power of 1 divided by the number of years, then subtract one. The calculator displays this as the compound annual rate for the period you selected.
Can I use this for future values?
For rough projections, apply an assumed rate — 2.5% to 3% is a common planning range consistent with the Fed's long-run target. Treat any projection beyond a decade as a scenario, not a forecast, and remember that 2025–2026 index values here are estimates.
Why do some sources give slightly different numbers?
Differences come from using monthly versus annual figures, seasonally adjusted versus unadjusted series, or CPI-U versus the older CPI-W or the chained CPI. All are legitimate; mixing them within one comparison is not.
Still unsure? Ask us a question — we answer within two business days.
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