Historical Inflation & Wealth Calculator

WealthPast · Calculators

Historical Inflation & Wealth Calculator

See how the purchasing power of a past U.S. dollar changed over time—and compare it with a historical S&P 500 total-return illustration when the data series is available.

Inflation equivalent

This converts a past U.S. dollar amount into the selected later year’s purchasing-power equivalent using the annual CPI index.

Amount in past dollars
Starting year
Comparison year

Purchasing-power equivalent

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Historical market illustration

This uses the S&P 500 annual total-return series, with dividends included. The series begins in 1928 and is not a forecast.

Amount invested at the start of the year
Investment start year
Investment end year

Illustrated ending value

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Method and sources

Inflation: The calculator uses the Minneapolis Fed annual average index. Official CPI comparable to the modern BLS series begins in 1913; values before 1913 are historical estimates. The 2026 value is explicitly labeled as an estimate.

Market illustration: The calculator uses the NYU Stern/Damodaran annual S&P 500 total-return series with dividends included, from 1928 through 2025. Fees, taxes, timing differences, inflation, and investor behavior are excluded.

Educational note: These are historical estimates and illustrations, not financial advice or a promise of future returns.