Historical Inflation Calculator

The US average annual inflation rate since 1913 (when CPI tracking began) is about 3.3%. However, this includes periods of very high inflation (1970s, 13%+) and very low inflation (2010s, ~1.5%).

Using the 3.3% average, $100 in 1996 has the same purchasing power as about $263 today. Conversely, $100 today would have bought what $38 bought in 1996.

The highest recorded annual inflation was 23.7% in 1920. The most sustained period was the 1970s-early 1980s, peaking at 14.8% in March 1980. Most recently, inflation hit 9.1% in June 2022.