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.