Inflation & buying power
What is 2002 dollars worth today?
$1 in 2002 has the same buying power as about $1.86 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 2002 is about 86%, or roughly 2.6% per year over 24 years.
What 2002 money is worth today
| In 2002 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $18.63 |
| $100.00 | $186.31 |
| $1,000 | $1,863 |
| $10,000 | $18,631 |
| $100,000 | $186,309 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 2002 dollar is worth about $1.86 now.
What this means
A dollar in 2002 — during the 2000s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $1.86, because everyday prices have climbed about 86% in the 24 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.54 bought in 2002.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 2002: about 86%.
- Average annual inflation: about 2.6% per year.
- Time span: 24 years (2002 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 2002 worth today?
$1 in 2002 has the same buying power as about $1.86 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 86% since then (an average of about 2.6% a year).
How much has inflation been since 2002?
Cumulative inflation from 2002 to May 2026 is about 86%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 2002 costs about $186.31 now.
Where does this data come from?
It uses the U.S. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, series CPIAUCNS) published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED, using annual-average CPI for past years and the latest monthly value for today.
Last reviewed June 20, 2026. Figures based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Estimates for general education, not financial advice.