This US Inflation Calculator measures the buying power of the dollar over time. To use it, just enter any two dates from 1913 to 2022, an amount, and then click 'Calculate'.

Inflation Calculator
  If in (enter year)  
  I purchased an item for $    
  then in (enter year)  
  that same item would cost:  
  Cumulative rate of inflation:  
 
 

Learn how this calculator works. The US Inflation Calculator uses the latest US government CPI data published on August 10, 2022, to adjust for inflation and calculate the cumulative inflation rate through July 2022. The U.S. Labor Department's Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the Consumer Price Index (CPI) with inflation data for August on September 13, 2022. (See a chart of recent inflation rates.)

Inflation, Inflation Rates, Site Information

Inflation rates and data updated for December 2008

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US Inflation Calculator has been updated with the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) figures released Tuesday, December 16 for the entire month of November.

The latest government report has November’s annual rate of inflation down to 1.1%, which is an enormous decline when compared to October’s 3.7%, September’s 4.9% and a rate of 5.4% in August.

On a monthly basis, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined 1.9 percent following October’s 1% decline. September was virtually unchanged while August dropped 0.1%.

The Inflation Calculator has been updated to use the latest figures for calculation, as have the following pages:

Consumer Price Index Data from 1913 to 2008

Current Inflation Rates: 1999-2008

Historical Inflation Rates: 1914-2008

Annual Averages for Rate of Inflation

For an in depth look at November consumer price changes, read Consumer prices fall record 1.7%, inflation drops to 1.1%.

 

Federal Reserve, Inflation, Interest Rates

Fed seen lowering rates toward zero without inflation worries

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Greatly reduced inflation pressures and a desire to spark some life into the economy has almost everyone expecting the Federal Reserve to cut its benchmark overnight interest rate from 1% to 0.50%, marking the lowest level on records dating to July 1954.

Plummeting energy prices have taken the sting out of inflation since crude prices tumbled off their record peak near $147 per barrel in July — also when inflation was at its highest for the year. New York crude-oil for January delivery settled to $46.28 a barrel, falling $1.70 on Friday.

Consumer prices dropped a record 1% in October. The Labor Department reports on Tuesday the November CPI, which is the most watched government inflation barometer. Economists expect another record decline to 1.4%. Add in Friday’s report by the government showing producer prices fell to 2.2% and the Fed has an enormous green light to lower rates with little regard for inflation. Continue reading Fed seen lowering rates toward zero without inflation worries →

Federal Reserve, Inflation, Inflation Rates

Producer prices drop 2.2% in November

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Producer prices fell sharply in November as energy prices plunged for the fourth consecutive month, the Labor Department reported Friday.

The Producer Price Index (PPI), which measures prices at the factory door and inflation pressures before they reach the consumer, fell steeper than expected to 2.2%. Economists had pegged a predictive 2.0% rise. The index registered its biggest monthly decline ever in October, falling a record 2.8%.

Plummeting energy prices again led the way in dragging prices down. The energy index fell 11.2% after a 12.8% drop in the previous month which set a 22-year record. Crude goods declined 12.5% following a 18.6% drop in October.

The consecutive declines further highlights free-falling crude-oil prices, which closed Thursday in New York at $47.98 a barrel — a far distance from its record highs near $147 per barrel in July when inflation peaked.

Continue reading Producer prices drop 2.2% in November →

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’12 Days of Christmas’ items now total $86,609

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The price tag to purchase your true love each gift from the repeated verses of the fabled "Twelve Days of Christmas" carol is now an eye-popping $86,609.

Startling and dismaying for the romantic at heart — especially so considering the price has increased an astonishing $8,509, or 10.9%, over last year, according to the 24th annual “Christmas Price Index” compiled by PNC Wealth Management.

Similar to the Labor Department’s calculated Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is the most watched government inflation barometer, the tabulated PNC CPI offers insights into rising (or falling) prices and the economy. However, while the government’s annual CPI dropped to 3.7% in October, the PNC CPI registers at 8.1%.

The biggest price killer was the seven swans a-swimming, coming in at $5,600 and accounting for most of the increase. Should lovers "forget" the swans?

Continue reading ’12 Days of Christmas’ items now total $86,609 →

Inflation, Inflation Rates

Consumer prices fall record 1%, inflation drops to 3.7%

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Consumer prices declined in October by a record level, the Labor Department reported Wednesday. The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is the most watched government inflation barometer, retreated to 3.7% during the previous twelve months and follows a decline of 4.7% in September.

On a monthly basis, the index fell 1% to mark the largest one month decrease since publication of seasonally adjusted changes began in February 1947. Economists were expecting a 0.9% decline.

"We are moving into an environment where prices are falling across the board," David Resler, chief economist at Nomura Securities International Inc. in New York, said in an interview with Bloomberg Television. "That is going to continue. Deflation is spreading across the economy."

Continue reading Consumer prices fall record 1%, inflation drops to 3.7% →

Inflation, Inflation Rates, Site Information

Inflation rates and figures updated for November 2008

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The US Inflation Calculator website has been updated with the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released Wednesday, November 19. The newest figures indicate that October’s annual rate of inflation declined to 3.7%. That compares to 4.9% in September and 5.4% in August. On a monthly basis, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) declined 1.0 percent. September was virtually unchanged while August declined 0.1%.

The Inflation Calculator has been updated to use the latest figures for calculation, as have the following pages:

Consumer Price Index Data from 1913 to 2008

Current Inflation Rates: 1999-2008

Historical Inflation Rates: 1914-2008

Annual Averages for Rate of Inflation

An in depth look at the released Labor Department data follows at Consumer prices fall record 1%, inflation drops to 3.7%.

Federal Reserve, Inflation, Inflation Rates

Producer prices set record drop of 2.8% in October

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Producer prices plunged in October for the third straight month and by a level never before on record, the Labor Department reported Tuesday.

The Producer Price Index (PPI), which measures prices at the factory door and inflation pressures before they reach the consumer, plummeted 2.8%. Forecasters were expecting a 1.9% reduction, which would have itself broke the last record one-month drop of 1.6% in October 2001, or right after the September 11 terrorist attacks.

Similar to September’s 0.4 % fall, diving energy prices were the key to October’s PPI decline. Energy prices plunged 12.8% in the month after falling 2.9% in September. That marks the biggest one-month drop since July 1986.

Continue reading Producer prices set record drop of 2.8% in October →

Federal Reserve, Inflation, Interest Rates, Site Information, Uncategorized

Fed cuts interest rates to 1 percent, expects inflation to moderate

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The Federal Reserve lowered its federal funds rate, the benchmark overnight lending rate at which banks lend to one another, by 50 basis points to 1 percent at Wednesday’s end of month scheduled meeting.

The latest rate is the lowest since 2004 and joins a new round of global cuts. China and Norway also cut rates on Wednesday, and other countries are expected to follow suite in an attempt to change the economic downturn and fight the ongoing crisis in the credit markets.

The Feds newest reduction follows on the heels of its emergency 1/2 percent interest rate cut on October 8 when world central banks first joined in their coordinated efforts to try to stabilize financial markets and ease out of the global credit crunch.

Today’s move was widely expected, although a minority of analysts suggested the Fed could cut rates by three-quarters of a percentage point to 0.75 percent, marking a never before seen low. Immediately following the announcement, U.S. stocks inched lower.

The announcement was made by the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC), who released the following statement:

Continue reading Fed cuts interest rates to 1 percent, expects inflation to moderate →

Inflation, Inflation Rates

Consumer prices flat, inflation eases to 4.9% in September

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Consumers got a respite on inflation in September, the Labor Department reported Thursday. The Consumer Price Index (CPI), which is the most watched government inflation barometer, retreated to 4.9% during the previous twelve months.

While overall U.S. consumer prices remained virtually unchanged, food prices increased and energy prices tumbled. September’s 30-day standstill follows an August monthly drop of 0.1% and an annual inflation rate of 5.4%.

Falling energy prices combined with a slowing economy eased consumer prices those two months. Inflation began its most ugly uptrend in April. It peaked to a 17-year high of 5.6 percent in July, during a time consumer and energy prices were at their highest — oil reached a record near $147 per barrel.

"Consumer price inflation has gone dormant, as the recent abrupt slowdown in world economic growth has led to sharp declines in energy costs, while weak domestic demand is putting downward pressure on retail prices in many key markets," wrote Dr. Brian Bethune, chief U.S. financial economist for Global Insight.

Oil prices tumbled Wednesday, closing on Nymex under $75 per barrel for the first time in more than one year. With less costly oil, weaker import prices and falling producer prices, inflation in October is expected to ease further.

Continue reading Consumer prices flat, inflation eases to 4.9% in September →

Inflation, Inflation Rates, Site Information

Inflation rates and figures updated for October 2008

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The US Inflation Calculator website has been updated with the latest Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) data released Thursday, October 16. The newest figures indicate consumer prices (inflation) rose 4.9 in September from a year ago, compared to 5.4% in August. On a monthly basis, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) was virtually unchanged following a 0.1% decrease in August.

The Inflation Calculator has been updated to use the latest figures for calculation, as has the following pages:

Consumer Price Index Data from 1913 to 2008

Current Inflation Rates: 1999-2008

Historical Inflation Rates: 1914-2008

Annual Averages for Rate of Inflation

An in depth look at the released Labor Department data may be read via the article Consumer prices flat, inflation eases to 4.9% in September.