U.S. inflation · 2004–2021
$100 in 2004 has the same buying power as
$143
in 2021
| Cumulative price change | 43.4% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.14% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $143 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $43.45 |
| CPI in 2004 | 188.9 |
| CPI in 2021 | 270.97 |
| Inflation in 2004 | 2.66% |
| Inflation in 2021 | 4.70% |
| $100 in 2004 → 2021 | $143 |
| $100 in 2021 → 2004 | $69.71 |
Between 2004 and 2021, the Consumer Price Index went from 188.9 to 270.97. Cumulatively, prices increased 43.4%, which works out to an average of 2.14% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 2004 bought what $0.70 buys in 2021.
| Amount in 2004 | Value in 2021 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.43 |
| $5.00 | $7.17 |
| $10.00 | $14.34 |
| $20.00 | $28.69 |
| $50.00 | $71.72 |
| $100 | $143 |
| $500 | $717 |
| $1,000 | $1,434 |
| $5,000 | $7,172 |
| $10,000 | $14,345 |
| $100,000 | $143,446 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,434,463 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 2004 spending costs in 2021, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 2004 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.14% | $143 |
| Medical care | 3.15% | $169 |
| Energy | 2.70% | $157 |
| Food | 2.38% | $149 |
| Housing | 2.34% | $148 |
| Transportation | 2.06% | $141 |
| Core (all items less food & energy) | 2.04% | $141 |
| Education & communication | 1.45% | $128 |
| Recreation | 0.84% | $115 |
| Apparel | 0.03% | $100 |
| 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 |
| 2021 | 270.97 | 4.7% | $143 |
MLA: “Inflation from 2004 to 2021: $100 is worth $143 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/2004-to-2021/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 2004 to 2021. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/2004-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.