US Inflation from 2017 to 2025
US inflation from 2017 to 2025 was +31.3%. $100 in 2017 had the same purchasing power as $131.34 in 2025 (avg. +3.47%/yr).
$100.00 in 2017 is worth
$131.34
in 2025
+31.3%
+3.47%/yr
How prices changed from 2017 to 2025
| Item | 2017 | 2025 | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gallon of gas | $2.42 | $3.17 | +31% |
| Loaf of bread | $1.52 | $2.10 | +38% |
| New home (median) | $323,100 | $430,000 | +33% |
| Median household income | $61,372 | $85,000 | +38% |
| Movie ticket | $8.97 | $11.50 | +28% |
| Annual college tuition (public) | $9,970 | $11,800 | +18% |
What Drove Inflation from 2017 to 2025
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.
COVID & Post-COVID: The COVID-19 pandemic caused the sharpest economic contraction since the Great Depression, followed by an unprecedented policy response. Trillions in fiscal stimulus and near-zero interest rates fueled rapid recovery, but supply chains remained severely disrupted. Surging demand meeting constrained supply produced the highest inflation in 40 years by mid-2021. The Federal Reserve began hiking rates in March 2022 at the fastest pace since Volcker, gradually bringing inflation down from its peak above 9%.
Understanding the Numbers
Over these 8 years, prices rose significantly — a total inflation rate of +31.3%. The annualized rate of +3.47% per year was roughly in line with the historical average of roughly 3.3% per year.
Compare Other Periods
Ending in 2025: