Inflation Calculator Australia
This inflation calculator shows what an amount of money from any quarter since September 1948 is worth in another quarter, using the ABS All groups Consumer Price Index for Australia. It suits anyone comparing prices, wages or savings across years. Figures run to the September quarter 2026, released by the ABS on 28 October 2026.
| Starting quarter | Worth now | Average a year |
|---|---|---|
| September quarter 1970 | $1,524.12 | 5.0% |
| September quarter 1980 | $560.82 | 3.8% |
| September quarter 1990 | $259.49 | 2.7% |
| September quarter 2000 | $204.86 | 2.8% |
| September quarter 2010 | $154.69 | 2.8% |
| September quarter 2016 | $136.40 | 3.2% |
| September quarter 2020 | $128.47 | 4.3% |
| September quarter 2025 | $103.92 | 3.9% |
How this is calculated
The calculator scales your amount by the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) between the two quarters you choose:
- Value = amount × (CPI in the end quarter ÷ CPI in the start quarter).
- Price change = (CPI end ÷ CPI start − 1) × 100.
- Average annual inflation = (CPI end ÷ CPI start) raised to the power of 1 ÷ years, minus 1.
The index is the ABS All groups CPI for Australia, the weighted average of the eight capital cities, quarterly, original series. The table runs from the September quarter 1948 to the September quarter 2026, the latest period available, released by the ABS on 28 October 2026. Results are rounded to the nearest cent.
Sources
- ABS, Consumer Price Index, Australia, September 2026, released 28 October 2026, read 31 October 2026
- ABS Data API, CPI dataflow 2.0.0, All groups CPI, Australia, quarterly, retrieved 31 October 2026
Worked example
What is $100 from the September quarter 1996 worth in the September quarter 2026?
- CPI in the September quarter 1996: 46.43. CPI in the September quarter 2026: 103.64.
- 103.64 ÷ 46.43 = 2.2322.
- $100 × 2.2322 = $223.22.
- Prices rose 123.2% over 30 years, an average of 2.7% a year.
Set the calculator to $100, from September quarter 1996, to September quarter 2026 to see the same result.
Frequently asked questions
What is $100 in 1990 worth today in Australia?
$100 in the September quarter 1990 has the same purchasing power as $259.49 in the September quarter 2026, based on the ABS All groups CPI for Australia. Prices rose 159.5% over those 36 years, an average of 2.7% a year.
What is the current inflation rate in Australia?
The Consumer Price Index rose 4.3% in the 12 months to September 2026, up from 4.0% in the 12 months to August 2026. Trimmed mean inflation was 3.6%. Source: ABS Consumer Price Index, Australia, September 2026, released 28 October 2026.
Does this calculator use monthly or quarterly CPI?
It uses the quarterly All groups CPI for Australia, which the ABS still publishes alongside its monthly CPI. The September quarter 2026 index (103.64) equals the average of the July, August and September 2026 monthly indexes. Quarterly figures are used because they run back to 1948.
How far back does the inflation calculator go?
It covers every quarter from the September quarter 1948, the first quarter of the ABS All groups CPI series for Australia, to the September quarter 2026.
Why might my own costs have risen faster or slower than the CPI?
The CPI measures the change in price of a fixed basket of goods and services bought by households in the eight capital cities. Your own spending mix, such as rent, a mortgage, fuel or childcare, can differ from that basket, so your personal inflation rate can be higher or lower.