See How Inflation Affects Costs, Prices Over Time

This calculator is a handy way to figure out how the purchasing power of a dollar changes over time. You can use it to estimate the price increase needed to hold steady your return on products sold, rental property or other goods and services. You can also use it to figure out roughly how much more something bought in the past would cost today because of inflation.

Of course, the calculator can provide only an estimate of what inflation has done to your costs or prices, since it uses the Consumer Price Index for all goods and services for all consumers. Actual prices for some products and services rise much faster than for others, and inflation can vary from one region of the country to another. All data used are from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Updated through 2009.

Please fill in a value and the years you want to compare in the boxes. The calculator does the rest.

Goods and services that cost on average: $ in  --Select-- 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981

would cost on average: $ ______  in  --Select-- 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 2001 2000 1999 1998 1997 1996 1995 1994 1993 1992 1991 1990 1989 1988 1987 1986 1985 1984 1983 1982 1981

 

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