The CPI tracks prices of a fixed basket of consumer goods and services. Inflation averaged about 3% a year since 1913, but with big swings: over 13% in 1980 and below zero in 2009 and the 1930s.
How to use the CPI Inflation Calculator: Consumer Price Index
- Use
- Start year
- End year
- Starting CPI
- Ending CPI
- Years between (for your CPI values)
- Amount
Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.
How it works
Choose the start and end years (or enter your own CPI values) and an amount to adjust.
Inputs explained
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Use | Choose one: U.S. CPI by year, My own CPI values |
| Start year | Choose one: 2026 (estimate), 2025, 2024, 2023 … |
| End year | Choose one: 2026 (estimate), 2025, 2024, 2023 … |
| Starting CPI | A number |
| Ending CPI | A number |
| Years between (for your CPI values) | A number |
| Amount | Amount in your currency |
What each result means
- Inflation rate = ([Ending CPI used]÷[Starting CPI used] – 1)×100
- Inflation-adjusted amount = [Amount]×[Ending CPI used]÷[Starting CPI used]
Example values
How the main result changes when Starting CPI changes and everything else stays at the example values above:
| Starting CPI | Inflation rate (%) |
|---|---|
| 129.4 | 24.38 |
| 194.1 | 24.38 |
| 258.8 | 24.38 |
| 323.5 | 24.38 |
| 388.2 | 24.38 |
| 517.6 | 24.38 |
Formula
Inflation rate = (CPI end − CPI start) ÷ CPI start × 100
Adjusted amount = amount × CPI end ÷ CPI start
Average annual rate = (CPI end ÷ CPI start)¹/years) − 1
Worked example
Inputs: Use: U.S. CPI by year; Start year: 2020; End year: 2025; Amount: $1,000.
Results: Starting CPI used = 258.8; Ending CPI used = 321.9; Inflation rate = 24.38 %; Inflation-adjusted amount = $1,243.82; Average annual inflation = 4.46 %.
Frequently asked questions
How is CPI inflation calculated?
(CPI end − CPI start) ÷ CPI start × 100.
What was inflation from 2020 to 2025?
About 24% cumulative (CPI-U 258.8 → 321.9).
Where does CPI data come from?
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.