This CPI Inflation Calculator helps you see how the purchasing power of a U.S. dollar changes over time. Enter an initial amount, choose a start month and year, and an end month and year. The calculator will show you the inflation-adjusted value of your money based on official Consumer Price Index (CPI) data.
Real CPI Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Our calculator does not use estimated inflation rates or simple averages. It uses the official U.S. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers, All Items, U.S. City Average (CPI-U, series ID: CUUR0000SA0) published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS).
- Index: CPI-U (All Urban Consumers)
- Coverage: “All items” – a broad basket of goods and services
- Area: U.S. city average
- Base period: 1982–84 = 100
- Frequency: Monthly, not seasonally adjusted
Data are loaded directly from the BLS CPI database for series CUUR0000SA0 , so the results reflect the same CPI numbers used by economists, researchers, and U.S. government agencies.
CPI Data Used in This Calculator
The table below shows the CPI-U (All Items, U.S. city average) values by month and year. These are the exact values that the calculator uses to adjust your initial amount for inflation. The dataset currently covers the period from 1984 through 2025 and is updated when new CPI releases become available.
How the Calculator Works
For your chosen period, the tool looks up the CPI in the start month and the CPI in the end month. It then adjusts your initial amount by the ratio of these two CPI values:
Inflation-adjusted amount = Initial amount × (CPIend ÷ CPIstart)
This shows what your original amount would be “worth” in prices of the end date. For example, if CPI has increased by 20% between your two dates, the calculator will increase your amount by 20% to keep the same purchasing power.
What You Can Learn
- Inflation-adjusted amount: The value of your money in today’s prices (or any selected end date).
- Total inflation rate: How much prices have increased over the selected period.
- Purchasing power loss: How much buying power the original amount has lost due to inflation.
How to Use the CPI Inflation Calculator
- Enter the Initial Amount (for example, 100 dollars).
- Select the Start Month and Start Year for your money.
- Select the End Month and End Year you want to compare against.
- Click Calculate to see the inflation-adjusted amount and detailed results.
The results panel will show:
- Initial amount and period
- Start and end CPI values
- Inflation-adjusted amount
- Total inflation rate over the period
- Estimated purchasing power loss
Notes and Limitations
- The calculator is based on the national CPI-U for all items (U.S. city average), so it does not reflect specific local price changes or individual spending patterns.
- CPI measures price changes for a broad basket of goods and services; it is a standard tool for tracking inflation but cannot capture every personal situation.
- Data are updated as new CPI numbers are released by the BLS, so results remain aligned with the latest official statistics.
Use this CPI Inflation Calculator to quickly understand how U.S. inflation has affected the value of money over time—backed by real, official CPI data.