Historical Inflation Calculator (US, UK, Euro, Canada)

Pick a currency, an amount, and two years. Using official price-index data (US CPI, UK CPI, Euro-area HICP, Canada CPI), see what that money is really worth in the other year — with the total and yearly inflation rate.

Equivalent value
Total price change
Average inflation per year
Buying power multiple
Reverse

Data reflects the latest official figures at the time of writing. Spot something outdated? Request an update →

Quick answer: About $246 in 2025 dollars, using US CPI data — prices roughly 2.5× over that period. Switch the currency and enter any two years above for the exact figure in pounds, euros, or Canadian dollars.

How the historical inflation formula works

Value in year B = Amount × (Index in year B ÷ Index in year A)

A consumer price index tracks the average price of a basket of goods over time. To convert money between two years, you scale by the ratio of the two years' index values. $100 in 1990 (US CPI 130.7) equals about $246 in 2025 (CPI 322.2) — prices roughly 2.5×'d over that span. The same maths applies to pounds, euros, and Canadian dollars using each country's own official index.

Inflation is global — so is this calculator

The dollar gets most of the searches, but the same erosion of buying power hit every currency. Switch the currency dropdown to compare:

  • US Dollar (USD) — US Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U, back to 1913.
  • British Pound (GBP) — UK Office for National Statistics, back to 1947. The pound lost roughly 98% of its 1947 value.
  • Euro (EUR) — Eurostat's Harmonised Index (HICP) for the euro area, from 1996 (the euro launched in 1999, but harmonised data starts in 1996).
  • Canadian Dollar (CAD) — Statistics Canada CPI, back to 1947.

Why this differs from our other inflation tool

This calculator uses real, recorded index data for the past — so it answers "what was this money actually worth?" precisely. Our forward inflation calculator instead projects the future using a rate you choose, since nobody knows tomorrow's CPI. Past = real data here; future = your assumption there.

A note on the data

Every figure comes from the relevant national statistics agency and reflects the latest annual average available at the time of writing. Because these agencies publish once a year, the most recent year is refreshed each January. If you believe a number is out of date, use the contact page to flag it — the disclaimer travels with every screenshot so shared results are never mistaken for live data.

Frequently asked questions

What is $100 in 1990 worth today?

About $246 in 2025 dollars, using US CPI data — prices roughly 2.5× over that period. Switch the currency and enter any two years above for the exact figure in pounds, euros, or Canadian dollars.

Does this work for UK pounds and euros?

Yes. Use the currency dropdown to switch between US dollars (from 1913), UK pounds (from 1947), euros (from 1996), and Canadian dollars (from 1947). Each uses its own official price index.

How is historical inflation calculated?

Multiply the amount by the ratio of the two years' price-index values: Amount × (Index_later ÷ Index_earlier). The index is published by each country's national statistics agency (BLS, ONS, Eurostat, StatCan).

Why does the euro only go back to 1996?

The euro launched in 1999, but Eurostat's harmonised index (HICP) for the euro area begins in 1996. Before that there was no single euro-area price to measure — each country had its own currency and index.

Is the data live or updated automatically?

No — the figures are the latest official annual averages at the time of writing, embedded for speed and privacy. They are refreshed each January when the agencies publish. A dated disclaimer is shown with every result and every screenshot so you always know the vintage.

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Last updated: 2026-07-11