US Dollar Purchasing Power
How much is a dollar from the past worth in today's money? Enter any amount and year to find its equivalent today — or compare any two years.
Inflation / Purchasing Power Calculator
Adjust any dollar amount for cumulative inflation between two years.
What Is Purchasing Power?
Purchasing power is the real value of a unit of money — how much it can actually buy. As prices rise due to inflation, each dollar buys less. A dollar in 1990 could buy roughly what $2.40 buys today.
Purchasing power is the inverse of the price level. If prices double, purchasing power halves. If the CPI rises 2.4% in a year, a dollar's purchasing power falls by about 2.3%.
How the Dollar Has Lost Value Over Time
| Year | $1 in that year = | in 2026 dollars | Cumulative Inflation |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 | $1.00 | ~$1.22 | +22% |
| 2015 | $1.00 | ~$1.33 | +33% |
| 2010 | $1.00 | ~$1.47 | +47% |
| 2000 | $1.00 | ~$1.84 | +84% |
| 1990 | $1.00 | ~$2.42 | +142% |
| 1980 | $1.00 | ~$3.86 | +286% |
| 1970 | $1.00 | ~$8.20 | +720% |
| 1950 | $1.00 | ~$13.40 | +1,240% |
Approximate values based on BLS CPI data. 2026 values estimated using Feb 2026 CPI of 2.4% YoY.
What Causes Loss of Purchasing Power?
The primary cause is inflation — when more money chases the same amount of goods, prices rise and each dollar buys less. Inflation can be driven by:
- Demand-pull: Strong consumer demand outpaces supply (e.g., post-COVID reopening)
- Cost-push: Rising input costs push prices up (e.g., oil shocks, supply chain disruptions)
- Monetary expansion: Too much money created relative to economic output
How to Protect Purchasing Power
To preserve purchasing power, returns on savings and investments must at least match inflation. Common strategies include:
- TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities) — government bonds that adjust principal with CPI
- I Bonds — savings bonds with an inflation-adjusted rate
- Equities — stocks of companies that can raise prices tend to hold real value over time
- Real assets — real estate and commodities historically track inflation
- High-yield savings — currently yielding ~4%, above the current inflation rate
Common Questions
What is $100 in 2000 worth today?
Approximately $184 in 2026 dollars — the dollar lost about 46% of its purchasing power from 2000 to 2026 due to cumulative inflation.
How do I calculate purchasing power loss?
Use the formula: Adjusted Value = Original Amount × (CPI_New ÷ CPI_Old). Alternatively, for a quick estimate, use the rule of 72: at 2.4% inflation, purchasing power halves every ~30 years (72 ÷ 2.4).
Has the dollar ever gained purchasing power?
Yes, during deflationary periods — most notably during the Great Depression (1930s) when prices fell significantly. Brief deflation also occurred in 2015 (oil price collapse) and 2020 (early pandemic).