Inflation Calculator

This professional-grade inflation calculator converts a past amount of money into its purchasing power in another year using the U.S. CPI‑U index. It’s designed for researchers, journalists, students, and financial professionals who need transparent, defensible calculations.

Results

Adjusted amount
$0.00
Cumulative inflation
0.00%
Multiplier: 1.000×
Average annual inflation
0.00%/yr
0 year span
CPI reference values (CPI‑U)
—
Source: BLS CUUR0000SA0

Data Source and Methodology

Authoritative data: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI‑U), U.S. city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted, Series ID: CUUR0000SA0, accessed via the official inflation calculator: https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm. All calculations strictly follow CPI ratio methods commonly used by the BLS.
Tutti i calcoli si basano rigorosamente sulle formule e sui dati forniti da questa fonte.

Note: This self-contained tool ships with annual average CPI‑U values through 2023. You can override CPI values in “Advanced options” to reflect the latest monthly data.

The Formula Explained

$$ \text{AdjustedAmount} = A_0 \times \frac{\mathrm{CPI}(t)}{\mathrm{CPI}(0)} $$
$$ \text{CumulativeInflation}~(\%) = \left(\frac{\mathrm{CPI}(t)}{\mathrm{CPI}(0)} - 1\right) \times 100 $$
$$ \text{AverageAnnualRate} = \left(\frac{\mathrm{CPI}(t)}{\mathrm{CPI}(0)}\right)^{\frac{1}{t-0}} - 1 $$

Glossary of Variables

  • Amount (A0): The nominal dollar value in the start year.
  • Start year (0): Year associated with the original amount.
  • Target year (t): Year to which you want to adjust the amount.
  • CPI(0), CPI(t): CPI‑U values for the start and target years.
  • Adjusted amount: The amount expressed in target-year dollars.
  • Cumulative inflation: Percentage change in price level between the two years.
  • Average annual rate (CAGR): The constant yearly rate that would compound to the same overall change.

Esempio pratico svolto

How It Works: A Step-by-Step Example

Goal: Convert $50.00 from 2000 dollars into 2023 dollars. From the dataset: CPI(2000) = 172.200; CPI(2023) = 305.349.

Multiplier = CPI(2023) / CPI(2000) = 305.349 / 172.200 ≈ 1.773
Adjusted amount = 50.00 × 1.773 ≈ $88.65
Cumulative inflation = (1.773 − 1) × 100 ≈ 77.3%
Years = 23 ⇒ Average annual rate ≈ 1.773^(1/23) − 1 ≈ 2.49%/yr

Interpretation: A $50 purchase in 2000 would require about $88.65 in 2023 to have similar purchasing power.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

Which CPI series is used here?
The tool uses CPI‑U (All Urban Consumers, U.S. city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted; BLS Series ID: CUUR0000SA0).
Is monthly precision available?
This single-file tool includes annual averages through 2023 for speed and portability. For month-level precision, use the BLS monthly CPI or enter custom CPI overrides in Advanced options.
How accurate are the results?
Results are as accurate as the CPI values provided. Using the official BLS annual averages yields standard purchasing-power adjustments used by researchers and the media.
What’s the difference between cumulative and annualized inflation?
Cumulative inflation measures the total change between two years. The average annual rate (CAGR) shows a constant yearly rate that compounds to the same total change.
Can this replace professional economic analysis?
No. The calculator provides transparent CPI-based conversions, but specialized analyses may require additional indices (e.g., PCE) or sector-specific deflators.
Why not seasonally adjusted figures?
Purchasing-power conversions use not seasonally adjusted (NSA) CPI because it reflects actual price level averages rather than seasonal fluctuations.
How often is CPI updated?
BLS releases CPI monthly. Annual averages are published after each calendar year. Use the override fields to reflect the latest monthly CPI before annual values are finalized.
Tool developed by Ugo Candido. Content verified by CalcDomain Editorial Team.
Last reviewed for accuracy on: .