Inflation Calculator
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What Is Inflation?
Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises over time, reducing purchasing power. This calculator uses the US Consumer Price Index (CPI-U) published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics to show how the value of a dollar has changed from 1913 to 2024.
Notable Inflation Periods
Inflation peaked at 13.5% in 1979. Oil embargoes and loose monetary policy drove decade-long price surges.
Inflation hit 20%+ as wartime price controls were lifted and consumer spending surged.
Prices fell 10% as the Great Depression crushed demand.
Supply chain disruptions and stimulus spending pushed inflation to 9.1% in June 2022 - a 40-year high.
Frequently Asked Questions
What CPI data does this use?
This calculator uses the CPI-U (Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers), annual averages, from the Bureau of Labor Statistics. CPI-U covers about 93% of the US population and is the most commonly cited inflation measure.
Why is the 2022 jump so large?
The 2021-2023 period saw the highest US inflation since the early 1980s, driven by pandemic-era supply chain disruptions, labor shortages, energy prices, and large government stimulus programs. The Federal Reserve raised interest rates aggressively from 2022-2023 to bring inflation back down.
Can inflation be negative?
Yes - negative inflation is called deflation. The US experienced deflation during the Great Depression (1930-1933) and briefly in 2009 during the financial crisis. Sustained deflation is generally considered harmful to economies because it discourages spending and investment.