Chicago, Illinois prices: $12.50 in 2003 $20.20 in 2025

Inflation in Illinois

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Prices in Chicago, 2003-2025 ($12.50)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Chicago, Illinois are 61.63% higher in 2025 versus 2003 (a $7.70 difference in value).

Between 2003 and 2025: Chicago experienced an average inflation rate of 2.21% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $12.50 in Chicago in the year 2003 would cost $20.20 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.51% during this same period, inflation in Chicago was lower.

In the year 2003: Pricing changed by 1.84%, which is below the average yearly change in Chicago during the 2003-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2003 (2.27%), inflation in Chicago was lower.

Price Inflation in Chicago, Illinois since 1914

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
19151920192519301935194019451950195519601965197019751980198519901995200020052010201520202025-20-100102030
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1919 (21.36%), 1920 (19.10%), and 1918 (16.80%).

View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $12.50 since 2003

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Chicago, over time, for $12.50 beginning in 2003. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
2003$12.501.84%
2004$12.782.24%
2005$13.173.03%
2006$13.442.05%
2007$13.883.27%
2008$14.403.77%
2009$14.23-1.20%
2010$14.421.37%
2011$14.822.73%
2012$15.041.52%
2013$15.211.14%
2014$15.481.75%
2015$15.43-0.30%
2016$15.530.66%
2017$15.831.88%
2018$16.101.75%
2019$16.341.46%
2020$16.521.12%
2021$17.224.22%
2022$18.527.55%
2023$19.143.33%
2024$19.803.46%
2025$20.202.05%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.


Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Chicago, Illinois:

Year1914191519161917191819191920192119221923192419251926192719281929193019311932193319341935193619371938193919401941194219431944194519461947194819491950195119521953195419551956195719581959196019611962196319641965196619671968196919701971197219731974197519761977197819791980198119821983198419851986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
CPI10.00010.01710.31711.75813.73316.66719.85018.17517.16717.37517.71718.10818.42518.25817.69217.65017.45815.95814.08312.63312.71713.26713.53314.09213.99213.71713.79214.51715.95816.85017.10817.47519.03322.10824.03324.00824.25026.15826.72526.95827.35827.54227.92528.83329.70829.95030.36730.51730.83331.14231.26731.68332.63333.48334.90036.80838.91740.45041.60044.20848.88352.74255.26758.74263.85071.81782.17590.04296.183100.017103.792107.708109.958114.492118.967124.983131.700137.042141.058145.408148.592153.317157.417161.725164.983168.400173.808178.333181.175184.508188.633194.342198.325204.818212.536209.995212.870218.684222.005224.545228.468227.792229.302233.611237.706241.181243.873254.159273.356282.450292.225298.213

Adjust Chicago prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2025 / CPI in 2003 * 2003 USD value = 2025 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Chicago, Illinois was 184.508 in the year 2003 and 298.213 in 2025:

298.213 / 184.508 * $12.50 = $20.20

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $12.50 in 2003 has the same "purchasing power" as $20.20 in 2025 (in the CPI category of Chicago, Illinois).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Chicago, Illinois in 1914. In addition to Chicago, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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