Denver, Colorado prices: $2,500 in 1985 → $7,646.41 in 2024

Inflation in Colorado

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Prices in Denver, 1985-2024 ($2,500)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices in Denver, Colorado are 205.86% higher in 2024 versus 1985 (a $5,146.41 difference in value).

Between 1985 and 2024: Denver experienced an average inflation rate of 2.91% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, $2,500 in Denver in the year 1985 would cost $7,646.41 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.78% during this same period, inflation in Denver was higher.

In the year 1985: Pricing changed by 2.68%, which is below the average yearly change in Denver during the 1985-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1985 (3.55%), inflation in Denver was lower.

Price Inflation in Denver, Colorado since 1984

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
19851990199520002005201020152020-137
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2022 (8.01%), 2023 (5.22%), and 2001 (4.68%).
View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $2,500.00 since 1985

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power in Denver, over time, for $2,500 beginning in 1985. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1985$2,500.002.68%
1986$2,518.670.75%
1987$2,586.372.69%
1988$2,654.062.62%
1989$2,703.081.85%
1990$2,822.134.40%
1991$2,931.843.89%
1992$3,041.553.74%
1993$3,169.934.22%
1994$3,309.994.42%
1995$3,452.384.30%
1996$3,573.763.52%
1997$3,690.483.27%
1998$3,779.182.40%
1999$3,888.892.90%
2000$4,042.953.96%
2001$4,232.034.68%
2002$4,313.731.93%
2003$4,360.411.08%
2004$4,365.080.11%
2005$4,456.122.09%
2006$4,614.853.56%
2007$4,715.902.19%
2008$4,899.703.90%
2009$4,868.07-0.65%
2010$4,959.081.87%
2011$5,142.113.69%
2012$5,242.021.94%
2013$5,387.282.77%
2014$5,536.882.78%
2015$5,602.011.18%
2016$5,757.312.77%
2017$5,952.263.39%
2018$6,114.802.73%
2019$6,232.471.92%
2020$6,354.041.95%
2021$6,579.013.54%
2022$7,106.078.01%
2023$7,476.665.22%
2024$7,646.412.27%*

* 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 Denver, Colorado:

Year19841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI104.300107.100107.900110.800113.700115.800120.900125.600130.300135.800141.800147.900153.100158.100161.900166.600173.200181.300184.800186.800187.000190.900197.700202.029209.903208.548212.447220.288224.568230.791237.200239.990246.643254.995261.958266.999272.207281.845304.424320.300327.572

Adjust Denver prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2024 / CPI in 1985 * 1985 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Denver, Colorado was 107.100 in the year 1985 and 327.572 in 2024:

327.572 / 107.100 * $2,500 = $7,646.41

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $2,500 in 1985 has the same "purchasing power" as $7,646.41 in 2024 (in the CPI category of Denver, Colorado).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Denver, Colorado in 1984. In addition to Denver, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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