Inflation Calculator

Calculate the impact of inflation on purchasing power over time. See how much past dollars are worth today.

By Konstantin Iakovlev · Updated April 2026 · Source: SEC

$
%

$1,000.00 in 2000 equals

$1,995.20

in 2026 dollars

Cumulative Inflation

99.5%

$1 in 2000 Buys

$0.50

worth in 2026

Inflation Details

Original Amount (2000)$1,000.00
Equivalent Amount (2026)$1,995.20
Period26 years
Average Annual Rate2.69%
Cumulative Inflation99.5%
Purchasing Power Change-49.9%

Use the Inflation Calculator above to calculate your results. Enter your values and see instant results — all calculations run in your browser.

Disclaimer: This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute tax, financial, or legal advice. Results are estimates based on the information you provide and current rates. Always consult a qualified tax professional or financial advisor for advice specific to your situation.

How It Works

Money loses value over time, and adjusting for inflation is how you see what a past dollar amount is really worth later on. Enter an amount and a starting year, and the equivalent purchasing power is calculated for a target year, 2026 included. Grasping how inflation erodes buying power underpins sound financial planning, smarter investment choices, and a clearer reading of long-run economic history.

The Consumer Price Index (CPI) serves as the inflation measure behind these results, applied through the formula Future Value = Past Value * (CPI in Future Year / CPI in Past Year). Historical CPI data comes from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), with projected figures filling in future years. The working estimate is 3.0% annual inflation for 2026, which points to a CPI near 314.5 for December 2026, built up from the December 2023 CPI of 306.7 and 3.0% annual growth.

Keep in view that CPI is an average, so your personal inflation rate can diverge from it depending on how you spend. The figure here is an estimate, and real inflation can swing with economic events no one saw coming. Leaving inflation out of long-horizon plans like retirement is where people go wrong most often, because it quietly understates how much money future goals will actually require.

Example: What is $10,000 from 2000 worth in 2026?

  1. 1 Input $10,000 as the 'Past Dollar Amount' and select '2000' as the 'Start Year'. Choose '2026' as the 'End Year'.
  2. 2 The calculator fetches the CPI for 2000 (roughly 172.2) and uses the projected CPI for 2026 (approximately 314.5). It then calculates: $10,000 * (314.5 / 172.2) = $18,263.65.
  3. 3 In 2026, $10,000 from the year 2000 would have the purchasing power of approximately $18,263.65.
  4. 4 This means that to buy the same basket of goods and services in 2026 that $10,000 bought in 2000, you would need over $8,000 more due to inflation's impact over 26 years. This illustrates the significant erosion of purchasing power over time.

Source: SEC · Last updated: April 2026

Frequently Asked Questions

How does inflation affect my savings?
Inflation reduces the purchasing power of money over time. At 3% annual inflation, $100 today will buy only about $74 worth of goods in 10 years. Savings accounts earning less than the inflation rate lose real value.
What is the average US inflation rate historically?
The long-term average US inflation rate is about 3.2% per year since 1913. Recent years have seen elevated inflation (9.1% peak in 2022), though rates have moderated toward the Fed's 2% target.
How much was a dollar worth 20 years ago?
A dollar in 2006 had the purchasing power of roughly $1.55-$1.60 in 2026 dollars, meaning prices have increased about 55-60% over the past two decades due to cumulative inflation.

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