Core inflation priced at $20 in 2001 $35.02 in 2025

Core Inflation Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Core Inflation, 2001-2025 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for all items less food and energy are 75.08% higher in 2025 versus 2001 (a $15.02 difference in value).

Between 2001 and 2025: Core inflation experienced an average inflation rate of 2.36% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, core inflation costing $20 in the year 2001 would cost $35.02 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.49% during this same period, inflation for core inflation was lower.

In the year 2001: Pricing changed by 2.67%, which is above the average yearly change for core inflation during the 2001-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2001 (2.83%), inflation for core inflation was lower.

Price Inflation for All items less food and energy since 1957

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (12.42%), 1981 (10.46%), and 1979 (9.74%).

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Buying power of $20.00 since 2001

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Core inflation, over time, for $20 beginning in 2001. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
2001$20.002.67%
2002$20.462.32%
2003$20.761.45%
2004$21.131.76%
2005$21.592.17%
2006$22.132.50%
2007$22.642.34%
2008$23.162.30%
2009$23.561.70%
2010$23.780.96%
2011$24.181.66%
2012$24.692.11%
2013$25.121.76%
2014$25.561.75%
2015$26.031.83%
2016$26.612.21%
2017$27.101.84%
2018$27.682.14%
2019$28.282.19%
2020$28.761.70%
2021$29.793.57%
2022$31.626.15%
2023$33.144.78%
2024$34.283.44%
2025$35.022.16%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.


Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for All items less food and energy:

Year195719581959196019611962196319641965196619671968196919701971197219731974197519761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
CPI28.93129.59230.18530.63830.98531.40831.80032.27732.73833.53834.70836.31538.42340.82342.73844.04645.58549.34653.89257.43161.02365.48571.86280.78589.23895.84699.615104.546109.115113.523118.200123.415128.977135.462142.108147.308152.177156.515161.200165.562169.508173.385176.985181.292186.131190.454193.223196.623200.892205.915210.729215.572219.235221.337225.008229.755233.806237.897242.247247.602252.169257.565263.211267.693277.255294.307308.381318.983325.870

Adjust core inflation prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2025 / CPI in 2001 * 2001 USD value = 2025 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for All items less food and energy was 186.131 in the year 2001 and 325.870 in 2025:

325.870 / 186.131 * $20 = $35.02

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 2001 has the same "purchasing power" as $35.02 in 2025 (in the CPI category of All items less food and energy).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for All items less food and energy in 1957. In addition to core inflation, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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