U.S. inflation · 2003–2021
$100 in 2003 has the same buying power as
$147
in 2021
| Cumulative price change | 47.3% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.17% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $147 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $47.27 |
| CPI in 2003 | 184 |
| CPI in 2021 | 270.97 |
| Inflation in 2003 | 2.28% |
| Inflation in 2021 | 4.70% |
| $100 in 2003 → 2021 | $147 |
| $100 in 2021 → 2003 | $67.90 |
Between 2003 and 2021, the Consumer Price Index went from 184 to 270.97. Cumulatively, prices increased 47.3%, which works out to an average of 2.17% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 2003 bought what $0.68 buys in 2021.
| Amount in 2003 | Value in 2021 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.47 |
| $5.00 | $7.36 |
| $10.00 | $14.73 |
| $20.00 | $29.45 |
| $50.00 | $73.63 |
| $100 | $147 |
| $500 | $736 |
| $1,000 | $1,473 |
| $5,000 | $7,363 |
| $10,000 | $14,727 |
| $100,000 | $147,266 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,472,663 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 2003 spending costs in 2021, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 2003 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.17% | $147 |
| Medical care | 3.22% | $177 |
| Energy | 3.14% | $175 |
| Food | 2.44% | $154 |
| Housing | 2.35% | $152 |
| Transportation | 2.14% | $146 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.03% | $144 |
| Education & communication | 1.46% | $130 |
| Recreation | 0.85% | $116 |
| Apparel | 0.00% | $100 |
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 2003 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $100 |
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $103 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $106 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $110 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $113 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $117 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $117 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $119 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $122 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $125 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $127 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $129 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $129 |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% | $130 |
| 2017 | 245.12 | 2.1% | $133 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $136 |
| 2019 | 255.657 | 1.8% | $139 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $141 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $147 |
MLA: “Inflation from 2003 to 2021: $100 is worth $147 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/2003-to-2021/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 2003 to 2021. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/2003-to-2021/
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U annual averages (series CUUR0000SA0; category indexes listed on the data sources page). See how these numbers are calculated.