Inflation Time Machine

See what a dollar was really worth. Compare the purchasing power of U.S. currency from 1800 to 2025 with beautifully designed Rolodex-style controls.

Inflation Time Machine lets you instantly see how the value of the U.S. dollar has changed over more than two centuries — from 1800 to 2025.

Ever wonder what $1 in 1900 would be worth today? Or how much purchasing power a $20 bill had during the Civil War? Just dial in any dollar amount from one cent to $99,999.99 using the Rolodex-style drum pickers and select any two years to see the inflation-adjusted result.

FEATURES

• 225 years of data — CPI values from 1800 through 2025, covering every major economic era in American history
• Cent-level precision — calculate from $0.01 to $99,999.99
• Rolodex drum pickers — scroll through digits with a satisfying mechanical feel and haptic feedback
• Instant results — see the adjusted value, cumulative inflation, and average annual rate in real time
• Detailed breakdown — view CPI values for both years, the multiplier, and purchasing power change
• Swap years — tap once to reverse the from/to direction
• Clean dark interface — a gold-on-black design built for focus and readability

HOW IT WORKS

The app uses the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U) published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. For years prior to 1913, it draws on historical estimates compiled by the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis from academic sources including the Vermont Farmers Index, the Ethel D. Hoover CPI, and the Albert Rees Cost of Living Index.

To calculate inflation-adjusted values, the app applies the standard formula: Adjusted Value = Original Amount × (CPI in Target Year ÷ CPI in Base Year).

Whether you're a student, teacher, investor, history enthusiast, or just curious about the changing value of money, Inflation Time Machine makes it fast and intuitive to explore over two centuries of economic history.