CPI Inflation Calculator
Calculate Consumer Price Index inflation rates between any two years (1913-2024)
Calculate CPI Inflation Rate
Starting year for inflation calculation
CPI: 258.8
Ending year for inflation calculation
CPI: 310.3
Inflation Analysis Results
Calculation Details
Formula: (CPI Target - CPI Base) / CPI Base × 100
Calculation: (310.3 - 258.8) / 258.8 × 100
Category: Very High Inflation
Real Value Impact
$100 in 2020 has the purchasing power of:
$119.90 in 2024
$100 in 2024 had the purchasing power of:
$83.40 in 2020
Economic Impact Analysis
Example Calculation
Century of Inflation (1918-2018)
Base Year (1918): CPI = 15.1
Target Year (2018): CPI = 251.1
Cumulative Inflation: (251.1 - 15.1) / 15.1 × 100 = 1,563%
Average Annual Rate: ((251.1 / 15.1)^(1/100) - 1) × 100 = 2.85%
Recent Period (2020-2024)
Base Year (2020): CPI = 258.8
Target Year (2024): CPI = 310.3
Cumulative Inflation: (310.3 - 258.8) / 258.8 × 100 = 19.9%
Average Annual Rate: 4.67% per year
Historical Inflation Highlights
1970s-1980s
High inflation period
Peak: 13.5% in 1980
Great Depression
Deflation period
1930-1933: -24% cumulative
COVID-19 Era
Recent inflation surge
2020-2024: 19.9% cumulative
CPI Quick Facts
CPI tracks prices of goods & services for urban consumers
Base period: 1982-1984 average = 100
Published monthly by Bureau of Labor Statistics
Covers ~93% of US population
Fed targets 2% annual inflation rate
Understanding CPI and Inflation
What is Consumer Price Index (CPI)?
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures the average change in prices paid by urban consumers for a market basket of consumer goods and services. It's the most widely used measure of inflation in the United States.
How CPI is Calculated
- •Market basket of goods and services is fixed
- •Prices are collected from ~23,000 retail outlets
- •Weights reflect typical household spending patterns
- •Index is calculated relative to base period
Inflation Rate Formula
Inflation Rate = (CPI₂ - CPI₁) / CPI₁ × 100
- CPI₂: Consumer Price Index in target year
- CPI₁: Consumer Price Index in base year
- Result: Percentage change in price level
Economic Impact
Positive inflation: Prices increase, purchasing power decreases
Negative inflation (deflation): Prices decrease, purchasing power increases
Hyperinflation: Extremely rapid price increases (>50% per month)