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US Annual CPI Change 1913–2025

Compare published annual-average CPI-U indexes and their compound annual rate of change.

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Calculator inputs

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How to use this calculator

  1. Enter the known values in the units shown. Results update as you type.
  2. Where results are editable, change one to solve backwards. Lock a value to hold it fixed.
  3. Use the worked example to check the method. Reset restores the starting fields.

Use the result with context

Results are estimates for planning and education. Confirm rates, taxes, fees, and legal requirements with the relevant institution or a qualified professional before making a financial decision.

Formula and method

The annual-average CPI rises from 9.9 in 1913 to 10.0 in 1914. Both the cumulative change and the one-year annualized change are about 1.0101 percent.

Cumulative change = final CPI/initial CPI−1; annualized change = (final CPI/initial CPI)^(1/year difference)−1.

Worked example

Enter these known values and leave the other values blank.

Base year
1913
Target year
1914
Annual CPI
9.9
Annual CPI
10
Cumulative rate of CPI inflation
1.01 %
Average CPI inflation rate
1.01 %

Assumptions and limitations

  • Use annual-average US city all-items CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted, with the 1982–84 index base. Supported whole years are 1913–2025.
  • The final year must follow the initial year for an annualized interval. Index ratios measure this national basket rather than an individual household budget or investment return.
  • Published BLS annual averages replace captured rounded 2007 and partial 2024/2025 values. This is a dated local dataset, not a live CPI feed.
  • These formulas calculate results from entered inputs; a missing input can prevent a result.

Common questions

What does this scenario assume?

Use annual-average US city all-items CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted, with the 1982–84 index base. Supported whole years are 1913–2025.

What does the result leave out?

Published BLS annual averages replace captured rounded 2007 and partial 2024/2025 values. This is a dated local dataset, not a live CPI feed.

References

Reviewed local arithmetic: Cumulative change = final CPI/initial CPI−1; annualized change = (final CPI/initial CPI)^(1/year difference)−1. Annual dataset corrections: 2007 207.3 to 207.342; 2024 313.65 to 313.689; 2025 319.082 to 321.943, independently verified against published BLS averages. Model input requirements: The final year must follow the initial year.

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