U.S. inflation · 2004–2020
$100 in 2004 has the same buying power as
$137
in 2020
| Cumulative price change | 37.0% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 1.99% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $137 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $37.01 |
| CPI in 2004 | 188.9 |
| CPI in 2020 | 258.811 |
| Inflation in 2004 | 2.66% |
| Inflation in 2020 | 1.23% |
| $100 in 2004 → 2020 | $137 |
| $100 in 2020 → 2004 | $72.99 |
Between 2004 and 2020, the Consumer Price Index went from 188.9 to 258.811. Cumulatively, prices increased 37.0%, which works out to an average of 1.99% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 2004 bought what $0.73 buys in 2020.
| Amount in 2004 | Value in 2020 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.37 |
| $5.00 | $6.85 |
| $10.00 | $13.70 |
| $20.00 | $27.40 |
| $50.00 | $68.50 |
| $100 | $137 |
| $500 | $685 |
| $1,000 | $1,370 |
| $5,000 | $6,850 |
| $10,000 | $13,701 |
| $100,000 | $137,010 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,370,095 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 2004 spending costs in 2020, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 2004 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 1.99% | $137 |
| Medical care | 3.27% | $167 |
| Food | 2.28% | $144 |
| Housing | 2.28% | $143 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 1.95% | $136 |
| Energy | 1.66% | $130 |
| Education & communication | 1.44% | $126 |
| Transportation | 1.32% | $123 |
| Recreation | 0.74% | $113 |
| Apparel | -0.12% | $98.07 |
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 2004 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 | 188.9 | 2.7% | $100 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $103 |
| 2006 | 201.6 | 3.2% | $107 |
| 2007 | 207.342 | 2.8% | $110 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $114 |
| 2009 | 214.537 | -0.4% | $114 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $115 |
| 2011 | 224.939 | 3.2% | $119 |
| 2012 | 229.594 | 2.1% | $122 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $123 |
| 2014 | 236.736 | 1.6% | $125 |
| 2015 | 237.017 | 0.1% | $125 |
| 2016 | 240.007 | 1.3% | $127 |
| 2017 | 245.12 | 2.1% | $130 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $133 |
| 2019 | 255.657 | 1.8% | $135 |
| 2020 | 258.811 | 1.2% | $137 |
MLA: “Inflation from 2004 to 2020: $100 is worth $137 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/2004-to-2020/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 2004 to 2020. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/2004-to-2020/
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.