Inflation & buying power
What is 2016 dollars worth today?
$1 in 2016 has the same buying power as about $1.40 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 2016 is about 40%, or roughly 3.4% per year over 10 years.
What 2016 money is worth today
| In 2016 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $13.96 |
| $100.00 | $139.63 |
| $1,000 | $1,396 |
| $10,000 | $13,963 |
| $100,000 | $139,631 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 2016 dollar is worth about $1.40 now.
What this means
A dollar in 2016 — during the 2010s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $1.40, because everyday prices have climbed about 40% in the 10 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.72 bought in 2016.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 2016: about 40%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.4% per year.
- Time span: 10 years (2016 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 2016 worth today?
$1 in 2016 has the same buying power as about $1.40 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 40% since then (an average of about 3.4% a year).
How much has inflation been since 2016?
Cumulative inflation from 2016 to May 2026 is about 40%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 2016 costs about $139.63 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.