Free inflation calculator using Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) CPI data from 2000–2026. Instantly calculate purchasing power loss, inflation-adjusted dollar values, or the salary increase needed to keep pace with rising prices.
BLS CPI data 2000–2026 • Purchasing power & dollar value
This inflation calculator uses Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) CPI data to show exactly how the purchasing power of the US dollar has changed year by year. From 2000 to 2026, cumulative inflation is approximately 87% — meaning $1,000 in 2000 now requires about $1,870 to buy the same goods. The average annual US inflation rate since 2000 is roughly 2.5%, but it has been far from steady: 2021 saw 4.7%, 2022 peaked at 8.0% (the highest in 40 years), and by 2026 has moderated back to approximately 2.4%–2.8%, near the Federal Reserve's 2% long-run target. Use this CPI calculator to adjust any historical dollar amount to today's value, or to see exactly how much purchasing power you've lost.
The salary inflation calculator mode is the most practical tool for workers and retirees. If you earned $70,000 in 2020 and received no raise, inflation has eroded your real purchasing power to roughly $58,000 in 2025 dollars — same paycheck, less buying power. A 3% annual raise barely keeps pace with typical inflation; a 5% raise genuinely grows real income. Retirees face this challenge acutely: a fixed pension of $2,000/month in 2005 buys roughly $1,300 worth of equivalent goods in 2026. Social Security's annual cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) are designed to offset this, but private pensions and fixed annuities usually do not adjust, making the purchasing power calculator essential for retirement income planning.
BLS CPI data by decade: 2000s averaged 2.5% annually, 2010s averaged 1.7% (near-zero post-GFC), 2020–2023 averaged 5.1% due to pandemic supply disruptions. By 2026, CPI has returned to approximately 2.4%–2.8%, close to the Fed's 2% long-run target.
$100 in 2000 required about $187 by 2026 to buy the same goods — an 87% cumulative increase. $100 in 1990 required about $237 by 2025. This dollar value erosion is why retirement nest eggs must grow faster than inflation, not just match it.
A $60,000 salary with 2% annual raises loses real purchasing power in any year inflation exceeds 2%. Use the salary inflation calculator mode to find exactly how much your wage must increase year-over-year to maintain the same standard of living.
Cash loses purchasing power every year inflation is positive. I Bonds and TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities) adjust with CPI — the most direct inflation hedge. Broad stock index funds and real estate have also historically outpaced inflation over 10+ year periods.