US Inflation from 2010 to 2015
US inflation from 2010 to 2015 was +8.7%. $100 in 2010 had the same purchasing power as $108.69 in 2015 (avg. +1.68%/yr).
$100.00 in 2010 is worth
$108.69
in 2015
+8.7%
+1.68%/yr
How prices changed from 2010 to 2015
| Item | 2010 | 2015 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gallon of gas | $2.79 | $2.45 | −12% |
| Loaf of bread | $1.34 | $1.50 | +12% |
| New home (median) | $221,800 | $296,400 | +34% |
| Median household income | $49,276 | $56,516 | +15% |
| Movie ticket | $7.89 | $8.61 | +9% |
| Annual college tuition (public) | $7,605 | $9,410 | +24% |
What Drove Inflation from 2010 to 2015
Financial Crisis: The collapse of the US housing bubble triggered a global financial crisis of historic proportions. As mortgage-backed securities lost value and interbank lending froze, the Federal Reserve slashed rates to zero and deployed emergency lending facilities. The economy contracted sharply in 2008–09, and deflationary pressures emerged as credit collapsed and unemployment surged toward 10%. Massive fiscal stimulus and quantitative easing gradually stabilized conditions, but recovery was painfully slow.
Low Inflation: The post-crisis recovery was characterized by historically low inflation despite extraordinary monetary stimulus. The Federal Reserve kept rates near zero until 2015, expanded its balance sheet to $4.5 trillion through quantitative easing, yet consistently undershot its 2% inflation target. Labor market slack, globalization, technology-driven price competition, and weak wage growth all contributed to the persistently low inflation environment that puzzled economists throughout the decade.
Understanding the Numbers
Over these 5 years, prices rose modestly — a total inflation rate of +8.7%. The annualized rate of +1.68% per year was below the historical average of roughly 3.3% per year.
Compare Other Periods
Starting from 2010:
Ending in 2015: