$1 in 2010 is worth $0.98 in 2009

Value of $1 from 2010 to 2009

$1 in 2010 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $0.98 in 2009. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 1.64% per year between 2009 and 2010, producing a cumulative price increase of -1.61%.

This means that prices in 2009 are 1.61% lower than average prices since 2010, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.

The inflation rate in 2009 was -0.36%. The inflation rate in 2010 was 1.64%. The 2010 inflation rate is lower compared to the average inflation rate of 2.55% per year between 2010 and 2024.


Inflation from 2010 to 2009
Average inflation rate1.64%
Converted amount
$1 base
$0.98
Price difference
$1 base
$-0.02
CPI in 2010218.056
CPI in 2009214.537
Inflation in 2009-0.36%
Inflation in 20101.64%
$1 in 2010$0.98 in 2009

Recent USD inflation
Annual Rate, the Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI
Download

Inflation by City

Inflation can vary widely by city, even within the United States. Here's how some cities fared in 2010 to 2009 (figures shown are purchasing power equivalents of $1):

St Louis, Missouri experienced the highest rate of inflation during the 1 years between 2009 and 2010 (2.38%).

San Diego, California experienced the lowest rate of inflation during the 1 years between 2009 and 2010 (-0.02%).

Note that some locations showing 0% inflation may have not yet reported latest data.


Inflation by Country

Inflation can also vary widely by country. For comparison, in the UK £1.00 in 2010 would be equivalent to £0.96 in 2009, an absolute change of £-0.04 and a cumulative change of -4.41%.

In Canada, CA$1.00 in 2010 would be equivalent to CA$0.98 in 2009, an absolute change of CA$-0.02 and a cumulative change of -1.75%.

Compare these numbers to the US's overall absolute change of $-0.02 and total percent change of -1.61%.


Inflation by Spending Category

CPI is the weighted combination of many categories of spending that are tracked by the government. Breaking down these categories helps explain the main drivers behind price changes.

Between 2009 and 2010:

This chart shows the average rate of inflation for select CPI categories between 2010 and 2009.

Compare these values to the overall average of 1.64% per year:

CategoryAvg Inflation (%)Total Inflation (%)$1 in 2009 → 2010
Food and beverages0.790.791.01
Housing-0.37-0.371.00
Apparel-0.48-0.481.00
Transportation7.897.891.08
Medical care3.413.411.03
Recreation-0.84-0.840.99
Education and communication1.981.981.02
Other goods and services3.453.451.03

For all these visualizations, it's important to note that not all categories may have been tracked since 2010. This table and charts use the earliest available data for each category.



How to calculate inflation rate for $1, 2009 to 2010

Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 2009 and 2010:

CPI in 2009 CPI in 2010
×
2010 USD value
=
2009 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values. The U.S. CPI was 218.056 in the year 2010 and 214.537 in 2009:

214.537218.056
×
$1
=
$0.98

$1 in 2010 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $0.98 in 2009.

To get the total inflation rate for the 1 years between 2009 and 2010, we use the following formula:

CPI in 2009 - CPI in 2010CPI in 2010
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (1 years)

Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:

214.537 - 218.056218.056
×
100
=
-2%

Alternate Measurements of Inflation

There are multiple ways to measure inflation. Published rates of inflation will vary depending on methodology. The Consumer Price Index, used above, is the most common standard used globally.

Alternative measurements are sometimes used based on context and economic/political circumstances. Below are a few examples of alternative measurements.

Personal Consumption Expenditures (PCE) Inflation

The PCE Price Index is the U.S. Federal Reserve's preferred measure of inflation, compiled by the Bureau of Economic Analysis. It measures the change in prices of goods and services purchased by consumers.

The PCE Price Index changed by 1.79% per year on average between 2010 and 2009. The total PCE inflation between these dates was 1.79%. In 2010, PCE inflation was -0.28%.

This means that the PCE Index equates $1 in 2010 with $1.02 in 2009, a difference of $0.02. Compare this to the standard CPI measurement, which equates $1 with $0.98. The PCE measured 3.40% inflation compared to standard CPI.

For more information on the difference between PCE and CPI, see this analysis provided by the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Core Inflation

Also of note is the Core CPI, which uses the standard CPI but omits the more volatile categories of food and energy.

Core inflation averaged 0.96% per year between 2010 and 2009 (vs all-CPI inflation of 1.64%), for an inflation total of 0.96%. In 2010, core inflation was 1.70%.

When using the core inflation measurement, $1 in 2010 is equivalent in buying power to $1.01 in 2009, a difference of $0.01. Recall that the converted amount is $0.98 when all items including food and energy are measured.

Chained Inflation

Chained CPI is an alternative measurement that takes into account how consumers adjust spending for similar items. Chained inflation averaged 1.42% per year between 2010 and 2009, a total inflation amount of 1.42%.

According to the Chained CPI measurement, $1 in 2010 is equal in buying power to $1.01 in 2009, a difference of $0.01 (versus a converted amount of $0.98/change of $-0.02 for All Items).

In 2010, chained inflation was -0.47%.


Data source & citation

Raw data for these calculations comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' (CPI), established in 1913. Price index data from 1774 to 1912 is sourced from a historical study conducted by political science professor Robert Sahr at Oregon State University and from the American Antiquarian Society. Price index data from 1634 to 1773 is from the American Antiquarian Society, using British pound equivalents.

You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “$1 in 2010 → 2009 | Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 28 Mar. 2024, https://www.officialdata.org/2010-dollars-in-2009?amount=1.

Special thanks to QuickChart for their chart image API, which is used for chart downloads.

in2013dollars.com is a reference website maintained by the Official Data Foundation.


Ian Webster

About the author

Ian Webster is an engineer and data expert based in San Mateo, California. He has worked for Google, NASA, and consulted for governments around the world on data pipelines and data analysis. Disappointed by the lack of clear resources on the impacts of inflation on economic indicators, Ian believes this website serves as a valuable public tool. Ian earned his degree in Computer Science from Dartmouth College.

Email · LinkedIn · Twitter


» Read more about inflation and investment.

Inflation from 2010 to 2009
Average inflation rate1.64%
Converted amount
$1 base
$0.98
Price difference
$1 base
$-0.02
CPI in 2010218.056
CPI in 2009214.537
Inflation in 2009-0.36%
Inflation in 20101.64%
$1 in 2010$0.98 in 2009