Official CPI-U data · 1913–2026

What was your money really worth?

Compare the buying power of any US dollar amount across more than a century. Pick two years and get the answer instantly.

Purchasing power

Inflation calculator

CPI-U

Calculated result

$1.06 in 1989 is like spending

$2.85

in 2026.

Prices rose 168.6% over that span.

April CPI is used for 2026 until the annual average is published.

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CPI purchasing power examples: $100.00 in 1996 equals $212.25 in 2026. $1.00 in 1913 equals $33.64 in 2026. $20.00 in 1950 equals $276.37 in 2026. $50.00 in 1976 equals $292.64 in 2026. $500.00 in 2008 equals $773.38 in 2026. $100.00 in 2019 equals $130.26 in 2026.

CPI-U tape

How the Fiat Watch inflation calculator works

Inflation erodes the value of money over time. A dollar in 1913 bought a lot more bread, gasoline, and rent than a dollar today. To compare prices across years fairly, we use the Consumer Price Index — a basket of goods the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics has been tracking since 1913.

The math is simple: converted = amount × (CPItarget ÷ CPIstart). We use the annual averages of the CPI-U (All Urban Consumers, series CUUR0000SA0) so the result reflects a typical year, not a single noisy month.

Popular CPI calculators

For common budget questions, use a focused calculator with examples for that cost category.

Historical prices

Browse BLS average prices by item, then open year-specific pages for inflation-adjusted comparisons.

Frequently asked questions

What years are supported?
Annual averages from 1913 through 2026. April CPI is used for 2026 until the annual average is published.
Why do my answers differ slightly from other calculators?
Most calculators use annual averages, but a few use specific months (often December or January). We use annual averages — the same approach the BLS recommends for long-horizon comparisons.
Where does the data come from?
Directly from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The dataset bundled with this site is refreshable via a single Rake task that hits the public BLS API.