U.S. inflation · 2003–2022
$100 in 2003 has the same buying power as
$159
in 2022
| Cumulative price change | 59.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.47% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $159 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $59.05 |
| CPI in 2003 | 184 |
| CPI in 2022 | 292.655 |
| Inflation in 2003 | 2.28% |
| Inflation in 2022 | 8.00% |
| $100 in 2003 → 2022 | $159 |
| $100 in 2022 → 2003 | $62.87 |
Between 2003 and 2022, the Consumer Price Index went from 184 to 292.655. Cumulatively, prices increased 59.1%, which works out to an average of 2.47% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 2003 bought what $0.63 buys in 2022.
| Amount in 2003 | Value in 2022 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.59 |
| $5.00 | $7.95 |
| $10.00 | $15.91 |
| $20.00 | $31.81 |
| $50.00 | $79.53 |
| $100 | $159 |
| $500 | $795 |
| $1,000 | $1,591 |
| $5,000 | $7,953 |
| $10,000 | $15,905 |
| $100,000 | $159,052 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,590,516 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 2003 spending costs in 2022, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 2003 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.47% | $159 |
| Energy | 4.20% | $219 |
| Medical care | 3.26% | $184 |
| Food | 2.82% | $170 |
| Transportation | 2.80% | $169 |
| Housing | 2.60% | $163 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.24% | $152 |
| Education & communication | 1.43% | $131 |
| Recreation | 1.04% | $122 |
| Apparel | 0.26% | $105 |
| 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 |
| 2022 | 292.655 | 8.0% | $159 |
2022 was the year inflation returned. Consumer prices rose 8.0% on average, the worst since 1981, driven by pandemic-era supply chains, stimulus-fueled demand, and an energy shock from the war in Ukraine. Gas briefly topped $5 a gallon nationally for the first time ever, and “inflation” became the top-ranked economic concern in nearly every poll of American households.
MLA: “Inflation from 2003 to 2022: $100 is worth $159 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/2003-to-2022/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 2003 to 2022. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/2003-to-2022/
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.