UK Inflation Calculator
See how the purchasing power of money has changed over time using historic CPI data.
Equivalent value in 2026
£195.56
Total inflation
95.56%
Annualised rate
2.60%
Purchasing Power Over Time
Inflation at a Glance
| Year |
CPI Index |
£100 in 2000 is worth |
How UK Inflation is Calculated
Inflation measures how much prices have risen over time. The UK uses the Consumer Prices Index (CPI), maintained by the Office for National Statistics, as its primary inflation measure. CPI tracks the cost of a basket of around 730 goods and services that represent typical household spending.
Comparing prices between years
Equivalent Value = Amount x (CPI in Target Year / CPI in Original Year)
To find what an amount from one year would be worth in another year, multiply by the ratio of the two CPI values. For example, to find what £100 in 2000 is worth in 2026: £100 x (141.0 / 72.1) = £195.56.
Calculating the total inflation rate
Total Inflation % = ((CPI Target / CPI Original) - 1) x 100
This gives you the total percentage change in prices between the two years. Between 2000 and 2026, total inflation was approximately 95.6%.
Annualised inflation rate
Annual Rate = ((CPI Target / CPI Original) ^ (1 / Years) - 1) x 100
The annualised rate tells you the average yearly inflation over the period. This is useful for comparing inflation across periods of different lengths. Between 2000 and 2026, the annualised rate was approximately 2.6% per year.
CPI base year
The CPI index uses 2015 as its base year (2015 = 100). All other years are expressed relative to this baseline. A CPI of 141.0 in 2026 means prices are 41% higher than in 2015.
Inflation FAQs
What is the difference between CPI and RPI?
CPI (Consumer Prices Index) and RPI (Retail Prices Index) are both measures of inflation, but they use different calculation methods and cover different items. CPI uses a geometric mean and excludes housing costs like mortgage interest and council tax. RPI uses an arithmetic mean and includes these costs, so RPI is typically 0.5-1% higher than CPI. Since 2003, CPI has been the UK government's preferred measure for setting inflation targets.
How is UK inflation measured?
The Office for National Statistics (ONS) measures UK inflation by tracking the prices of a basket of around 730 goods and services that represent typical household spending. Each month, price collectors visit shops and record prices across the country. The items in the basket are updated annually to reflect changing spending habits. The CPI figure compares the current cost of this basket to its cost in a base year (2015 = 100).
What is the difference between real and nominal values?
Nominal values are the actual pound amounts at the time, without adjusting for inflation. Real values have been adjusted for inflation so you can compare purchasing power across different time periods. For example, a salary of £20,000 in 2000 had far more purchasing power than £20,000 today. This calculator converts between nominal and real values using the CPI index, showing you what an amount from one year would be worth in another year's money.