Washington, DC inflation
Prices in Washington, DC since 1915
Up 3,067%
An average of 3.16% a year, compared with 3,217% for all U.S. prices. $100 of 1915 spending here costs $3,167.13 in July 2026.
Last 12 months (to July 2026)
4.0%
All U.S. prices, same period
3.4%
Data since
1915
How much prices in Washington, DC have risen
| Since | Washington, DC | All U.S. prices | $100 then costs now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +1,248% | +1,290% | $1,348.26 |
| 1970 | +744% | +763% | $843.51 |
| 1980 | +305% | +307% | $404.97 |
| 1990 | +148% | +156% | $247.58 |
| 2020 | +26% | +29% | $125.66 |
Calculate Washington, DC inflation
Inflation rate by year
Every year since 1915
| Year | Index | Change | $1 then costs now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 322.0 | 2.2% | $1.04 |
| 2024 | 315.2 | 3.2% | $1.07 |
| 2023 | 305.3 | 3.1% | $1.10 |
| 2022 | 296.1 | 6.6% | $1.13 |
| 2021 | 277.7 | 4.0% | $1.21 |
| 2020 | 267.2 | 0.9% | $1.26 |
| 2019 | 264.8 | 1.3% | $1.27 |
| 2018 | 261.4 | 2.0% | $1.28 |
| 2017 | 256.2 | 1.1% | $1.31 |
| 2016 | 253.4 | 1.1% | $1.32 |
| 2015 | 250.7 | $1.34 | |
| 1997 | 162.4 | 1.8% | $2.07 |
| 1996 | 159.6 | 2.8% | $2.10 |
| 1995 | 155.3 | 2.0% | $2.16 |
| 1994 | 152.2 | 1.9% | $2.21 |
| 1993 | 149.3 | 3.2% | $2.25 |
| 1992 | 144.7 | 2.5% | $2.32 |
| 1991 | 141.2 | 4.1% | $2.38 |
| 1990 | 135.6 | 5.9% | $2.48 |
| 1989 | 128.0 | 5.8% | $2.62 |
| 1988 | 121.0 | 4.1% | $2.77 |
| 1987 | 116.2 | 3.6% | $2.89 |
| 1986 | 112.2 | 2.9% | $2.99 |
| 1985 | 109.0 | 4.2% | $3.08 |
| 1984 | 104.6 | 4.8% | $3.21 |
| 1983 | 99.8 | 4.5% | $3.36 |
| 1982 | 95.5 | 5.5% | $3.52 |
| 1981 | 90.5 | 9.2% | $3.71 |
| 1980 | 82.9 | 12.0% | $4.05 |
| 1979 | 74.0 | 10.9% | $4.54 |
| 1978 | 66.7 | 7.6% | $5.03 |
| 1977 | 62.0 | 6.9% | $5.41 |
| 1976 | 58.0 | 6.0% | $5.79 |
| 1975 | 54.7 | 7.7% | $6.14 |
| 1974 | 50.8 | 11.2% | $6.61 |
| 1973 | 45.7 | 6.3% | $7.35 |
| 1972 | 43.0 | 3.4% | $7.81 |
| 1971 | 41.6 | 4.5% | $8.07 |
| 1970 | 39.8 | 5.6% | $8.44 |
| 1969 | 37.7 | 6.2% | $8.90 |
| 1968 | 35.5 | 4.7% | $9.46 |
| 1967 | 33.9 | 2.7% | $9.90 |
| 1966 | 33.0 | 3.4% | $10.17 |
| 1965 | 31.9 | 1.6% | $10.52 |
| 1964 | 31.4 | 1.6% | $10.69 |
| 1963 | 30.9 | 1.6% | $10.86 |
| 1962 | 30.4 | 1.0% | $11.04 |
| 1961 | 30.1 | 1.3% | $11.15 |
| 1960 | 29.7 | 1.0% | $11.30 |
| 1959 | 29.4 | 0.3% | $11.42 |
| 1958 | 29.3 | 2.4% | $11.46 |
| 1957 | 28.6 | 3.2% | $11.74 |
| 1956 | 27.7 | 1.1% | $12.12 |
| 1955 | 27.4 | -0.4% | $12.25 |
| 1954 | 27.5 | 0.0% | $12.21 |
| 1953 | 27.5 | 0.7% | $12.21 |
| 1952 | 27.3 | 2.6% | $12.30 |
| 1951 | 26.6 | 6.8% | $12.62 |
| 1950 | 24.9 | 1.2% | $13.48 |
| 1949 | 24.6 | 0.0% | $13.65 |
| 1948 | 24.6 | 6.0% | $13.65 |
| 1947 | 23.2 | 12.6% | $14.47 |
| 1946 | 20.6 | 9.0% | $16.30 |
| 1945 | 18.9 | 2.7% | $17.76 |
| 1944 | 18.4 | 1.7% | $18.25 |
| 1943 | 18.1 | 6.5% | $18.55 |
| 1942 | 17.0 | 11.1% | $19.75 |
| 1941 | 15.3 | 4.1% | $21.94 |
| 1940 | 14.7 | 0.7% | $22.84 |
| 1939 | 14.6 | -0.7% | $22.99 |
| 1938 | 14.7 | -2.0% | $22.84 |
| 1937 | 15.0 | 2.0% | $22.38 |
| 1936 | 14.7 | 0.7% | $22.84 |
| 1935 | 14.6 | 2.1% | $22.99 |
| 1934 | 14.3 | 2.9% | $23.48 |
| 1933 | 13.9 | -2.8% | $24.15 |
| 1932 | 14.3 | -7.7% | $23.48 |
| 1931 | 15.5 | -6.1% | $21.66 |
| 1930 | 16.5 | -1.8% | $20.35 |
| 1929 | 16.8 | -0.6% | $19.98 |
| 1928 | 16.9 | -0.6% | $19.86 |
| 1927 | 17.0 | -2.9% | $19.75 |
| 1926 | 17.5 | 1.2% | $19.18 |
| 1925 | 17.3 | 2.4% | $19.41 |
| 1924 | 16.9 | 0.0% | $19.86 |
| 1923 | 16.9 | 1.2% | $19.86 |
| 1922 | 16.7 | -5.1% | $20.10 |
| 1921 | 17.6 | -12.0% | $19.07 |
| 1920 | 20.0 | 12.4% | $16.79 |
| 1919 | 17.8 | 9.2% | $18.86 |
| 1918 | 16.3 | 18.1% | $20.60 |
| 1917 | 13.8 | 21.1% | $24.33 |
| 1916 | 11.4 | 7.5% | $29.45 |
| 1915 | 10.6 | $31.67 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U series CUURS35ASA0, not seasonally adjusted. Index values are relative (only the changes matter), so they can't be compared across categories.
Questions
- What is the inflation rate in Washington, DC?
- Prices in Washington, DC were 4.0% higher in July 2026 than a year earlier.
- How much have prices risen in Washington, DC since 1915?
- 3,067%, compared with 3,217% for the U.S. as a whole. $100 of 1915 spending costs $3,167.13 now.
- What area does this cover?
- Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV, as defined by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (CPI-U series CUURS35ASA0).
- How often is Washington, DC CPI updated?
- BLS prices the largest metro areas every month and the others every other month, so the latest figure can be a month older than the national one.