In economics, the inflation rate is a measure of the change in price of a basket of goods. The most common measure being the consumer price index. It is the percentage rate of change in price level over time, and also indicates the rate of decrease in the purchasing power of money. The annual rate of inflation for 2023, was 4.1 percent higher in the United States when compared to the previous year. More information on inflation and the consumer price index can be found on our dedicated topic page. Additionally, the monthly rate of inflation in the United States can be accessed here. Inflation and purchasing power Inflation is a key economic indicator, and gives economists and consumers alike a look at changes in prices in the wider economy. For example, if an average pair of socks costs 100 dollars one year and 105 dollars the following year, the inflation rate is five percent. This means the amount of goods an individual can purchase with a unit of currency has decreased. This concept is often referred to as purchasing power. The data presents the average rate of inflation in a year, whereas the monthly measure of inflation measures the change in prices compared with prices one year ago. For example, monthly inflation in the U.S. reached a peak in June 2022 at 9.1 percent. This means that prices were 9.1 percent higher than they were in June of 2021. The purchasing power is the extent to which a person has available funds to make purchases. The Big Mac Index has been published by The Economist since 1986 and exemplifies purchasing power on a global scale, allowing us to see note the differences between different countries currencies. Switzerland for example, has the most expensive Big Mac in the world, costing consumers 6.71 U.S. dollars as of July 2022, whereas a Big Mac cost 5.15 dollars in the United States, and 4.77 dollars in the Euro area. One of the most important tools in influencing the rate of inflation is interest rates. The Federal Reserve of the United States has the capacity to make changes to the federal interest rate . Changes to the rate of inflation are thought to be an imbalance between supply and demand. After COVID-19 related lockdowns came to an end there was a sudden increase in demand for goods and services with consumers having more funds than usual thanks to reduced spending during lockdown and government funded economic support. Additionally, supply-chain related bottlenecks also due to lockdowns around the world and the Russian invasion of Ukraine meant that there was a decrease in the supply of goods and services. By increasing the interest rate, the Federal Reserve aims to reduce spending, and thus bring demand back into balance with supply.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers: Purchasing Power of the Consumer Dollar in U.S. City Average (CUUR0000SA0R) from Jan 1913 to Sep 2025 about urban, consumer, CPI, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

When converted to the value of one US dollar in 2020, goods and services that cost one dollar in 1700 would cost just over 63 dollars in 2020, this means that one dollar in 1700 was worth approximately 63 times more than it is today. This data can be used to calculate how much goods and services from the years shown would cost today, by multiplying the price from then by the number shown in the graph. For example, an item that cost 50 dollars in 1970 would theoretically cost 335.5 US dollars in 2020 (50 x 6.71 = 335.5), although it is important to remember that the prices of individual goods and services inflate at different rates than currency, therefore this graph must only be used as a guide.

The DXY exchange rate rose to 99.4202 on December 2, 2025, up 0.01% from the previous session. Over the past month, the United States Dollar has weakened 0.45%, and is down by 6.53% over the last 12 months. United States Dollar - values, historical data, forecasts and news - updated on December of 2025.

Inflation is generally defined as the continued increase in the average prices of goods and services in a given region. Following the extremely high global inflation experienced in the 1980s and 1990s, global inflation has been relatively stable since the turn of the millennium, usually hovering between three and five percent per year. There was a sharp increase in 2008 due to the global financial crisis now known as the Great Recession, but inflation was fairly stable throughout the 2010s, before the current inflation crisis began in 2021. Recent years Despite the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the global inflation rate fell to 3.26 percent in the pandemic's first year, before rising to 4.66 percent in 2021. This increase came as the impact of supply chain delays began to take more of an effect on consumer prices, before the Russia-Ukraine war exacerbated this further. A series of compounding issues such as rising energy and food prices, fiscal instability in the wake of the pandemic, and consumer insecurity have created a new global recession, and global inflation in 2024 is estimated to have reached 5.76 percent. This is the highest annual increase in inflation since 1996. Venezuela Venezuela is the country with the highest individual inflation rate in the world, forecast at around 200 percent in 2022. While this is figure is over 100 times larger than the global average in most years, it actually marks a decrease in Venezuela's inflation rate, which had peaked at over 65,000 percent in 2018. Between 2016 and 2021, Venezuela experienced hyperinflation due to the government's excessive spending and printing of money in an attempt to curve its already-high inflation rate, and the wave of migrants that left the country resulted in one of the largest refugee crises in recent years. In addition to its economic problems, political instability and foreign sanctions pose further long-term problems for Venezuela. While hyperinflation may be coming to an end, it remains to be seen how much of an impact this will have on the economy, how living standards will change, and how many refugees may return in the coming years.

Graph and download economic data for Inflation, consumer prices for the United States (FPCPITOTLZGUSA) from 1960 to 2024 about consumer, CPI, inflation, price index, indexes, price, and USA.

The US dollar index of November 10, 2025 was lower than it was in October 2025, although still above the level in June 2025, the lowest value in the current year. This reveals itself in a historical graphic on the past 50 years, measuring the relative strength of the U.S. dollar. This metric is different from other FX graphics that compare the U.S. dollar against other currencies. By October 1, 2025, the DXY index was around 97.66 points. The history of the DXY Index The index shown here – often referred to with the code DXY or USDX -measures the value of the U.S. dollar compared to a basket of six other foreign currencies. This basket includes the euro, the Swiss franc, the Japanese yen, the Canadian dollar, the British pound, and the Swedish króna. The index was created in 1973, after the arrival of the petrodollar and the dissolution of the Bretton Woods Agreement. Today, most of these currencies remain connected to the United States' largest trade partners. The relevance of the DXY Index The index focuses on trade and the strength of the U.S. dollar against specific currencies. It's less about inflation or devaluation, which is measured in alternative metrics like the Big Mac Index. Indeed, as the methodology behind the DXY Index has only been updated once – when the euro arrived in 1999 – some argue this composition is not accurate to the current state of the world. The price development of the U.S. dollar affects many things, including commodity prices in general.

Key information about Kenya Exchange Rate against USD

• Kenya Exchange Rate against USD averaged 129.495 (USD/KES) in Nov 2025, compared with 129.239 USD/KES in the previous month.
• Kenya Exchange Rate against USD data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1957 to Nov 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 159.739 in Jan 2024 and a record low of 6.900 in Dec 1973.

CEIC extends history for monthly average Exchange Rate against USD. Central Bank of Kenya provides average Exchange Rate against USD. Exchange Rate against USD prior to January 2000 is sourced from the International Monetary Fund.


Key information about Kenya Exchange Rate against USD

• In the latest reports, Kenya Short Term Interest Rate: Monthly Average: Treasury Bills Rate: 91 Days was reported at 7.960 % pa in Sep 2025.
• Its Long Term Interest Rate (Treasury Bonds Rate: 10 Years) was reported at 16.392 % pa in Jun 2024.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Central Bank Rediscount Rate) was set at 9.250 % pa in Nov 2025.

Inflation in Jamaica dropped to about 3.91 percent in 2019, meaning that a group of goods that cost 100 Jamaican dollars in 2019 would cost 103.91 Jamaican dollars in 2020. This rate dropped from 4.38 percent in 2017 and was forecast to stay around 5 percent in the medium term.

Inflation and growth

After adjusting for inflation, the growth rate in Jamaica’s economy has been relatively slow over the past few years. This is an issue for the island because its gross domestic product per capita indicates a moderate level of development. This suggests that the people would benefit from a higher level of growth. Developmental economists often call this “catch-up” growth, a period of relatively rapid growth that occurs because the economy develops to the level of other countries that have fully realized their economic potential under modern levels of technology and trade.

Effects of inflation

Inflation is often associated with a corresponding increase in unemployment. In developed economies, central bankers worry about the tradeoff between higher inflation and higher unemployment. For Jamaica, more inflation may be the lesser of two evils. Since the Jamaican dollar is not pegged to any other currency, inflation also weakens the currency. For a country so heavily reliant on foreign currencies through tourism, this actually makes Jamaica a more attractive destination because tourists’ U.S. dollars or euros are worth more in relative terms.

In 2024, the total value of currency in circulation in the United States reached approximately **** trillion U.S. dollars, representing a slight increase from the previous year. Over the observed period, this value grew steadily, with a pronounced surge in 2020. That year’s momentum carried forward, and by 2024, 100-dollar bills alone accounted for over *** trillion U.S. dollars of the total currency in circulation.

Graph and download economic data for Canadian Dollars to U.S. Dollar Spot Exchange Rate (DEXCAUS) from 1971-01-04 to 2025-11-28 about Canada, exchange rate, currency, rate, and USA.

In 2023, the usual median hourly rate of a worker's wage in the United States was 19.24 U.S. dollars, a decrease from the previous year. Dollar value is based on 2023 U.S. dollars. In 1979, the median hourly earnings in the U.S. was 17.48 dollars.

Prices in New Zealand rose by 1.72 percent in 2020. Central bankers at the Reserve Bank of New Zealand were surely relieved to see the rebound from the dangerously low 0.29 percent inflation in 2015. What is inflation? Inflation is the rise in price levels in an economy. 2 percent inflation means 100 New Zealand dollars will be worth 98 dollars in one year. While the precise inflation target varies, most economists agree that inflation between 2 to 3 percent is optimal for an economy. High inflation can lead to higher unemployment because firms would rather wait and higher workers at the same price using future dollars, making the labor relatively cheaper. However, it affects the trade balance because of the relatively higher purchasing power of foreign currencies. Other risks of inflation and deflation Inflation helps a country with higher national debt when the debt is in the local currency, because the country can repay with the future dollars which are relatively cheaper. Deflation, then, helps when debts are in a foreign currency. The main problem with deflation is that investors prefer to hold their money, waiting to invest until it is worth more. This is particularly true of countries like New Zealand, where the lion’s share of employment is in the services sector.

Graph and download economic data for Currency in Circulation (CURRCIR) from Aug 1917 to Oct 2025 about currency and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Nominal Advanced Foreign Economies U.S. Dollar Index (DTWEXAFEGS) from 2006-01-02 to 2025-11-28 about trade-weighted, foreign, exchange rate, currency, goods, services, rate, indexes, and USA.

Gold Prices - Historical chart and current data through 2025.

Key information about Philippines Exchange Rate against USD

• Philippines Exchange Rate against USD averaged 58.914 (USD/PHP) in Nov 2025, compared with 58.298 USD/PHP in the previous month.
• Philippines Exchange Rate against USD data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1945 to Nov 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 712.400 in Dec 2019 and a record low of 105.000 in Dec 1996.

Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas provides monthly average Exchange Rate against USD.


Key information about Philippines Exchange Rate against USD

• In the latest reports, Philippines Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Treasury Bill Rate: 91 Days was reported at 4.847 % pa in Nov 2025.
• Its Long Term Interest Rate (Long Term Interest Rate: Month End: Philippines: Treasury Bond Rate: 10 Years) was reported at 5.740 % pa in Nov 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Overnight Lending Facility) was set at 5.250 % pa in Nov 2025.

Key information about Canada Exchange Rate against USD

• Canada Exchange Rate against USD averaged 1.399 (USD/CAD) in Oct 2025, compared with 1.383 USD/CAD in the previous month.
• Canada Exchange Rate against USD data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1957 to Oct 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 39.940 in Dec 2023 and a record low of -122.783 in Dec 2016.

CEIC extends history for monthly average Exchange Rate against USD. Federal Reserve Board provides average Exchange Rate against USD. Exchange Rate against USD prior to January 1971 is sourced from the International Monetary Fund.


Key information about Canada Exchange Rate against USD

• In the latest reports, Canada Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Treasury Bills Yield: 3 Months was reported at 2.210 % pa in Oct 2025.
• Its Long Term Interest Rate (Government Benchmark Bonds Yield: Month End: 10 Years) was reported at 3.120 % pa in Oct 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Overnight Target Rate) was set at 2.250 % pa in Oct 2025.

Key information about Australia Exchange Rate against USD

• Australia Exchange Rate against USD averaged 1.527 (USD/AUD) in Oct 2025, compared with 1.516 USD/AUD in the previous month.
• Australia Exchange Rate against USD data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1957 to Oct 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 1.994 in Apr 2001 and a record low of 0.673 in Mar 1974.

CEIC extends history for monthly average Exchange Rate against USD. Federal Reserve Board provides average Exchange Rate against USD. Exchange Rate against USD prior to January 1971 is sourced from the International Monetary Fund.


Key information about Australia Exchange Rate against USD

• In the latest reports, Australia Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: Bank Acceptance Bills Rates: 90 days was reported at 3.663 % pa in Nov 2025.
• Its Long Term Interest Rate (Government Bond Yield: Australian Government: 10 Years) was reported at 4.234 % pa in Oct 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Cash Target Rate) was set at 3.600 % pa in Nov 2025.

Key information about South Korea Exchange Rate against USD

• South Korea Exchange Rate against USD averaged 1,423.080 (USD/KRW) in Oct 2025, compared with 1,392.905 USD/KRW in the previous month.
• South Korea Exchange Rate against USD data is updated monthly, available from Jan 1957 to Oct 2025.
• The data reached an all-time high of 1,707.300 in Jan 1998 and a record low of 50.000 in Jan 1960.

CEIC extends history for monthly average Exchange Rate against USD. Federal Reserve Board provides average Exchange Rate against USD. Exchange Rate against USD prior to April 1981 is sourced from the International Monetary Fund.


Key information about South Korea Exchange Rate against USD

• In the latest reports, South Korea Short Term Interest Rate: Month End: KORIBOR: 3 Months was reported at 2.780 % pa in Nov 2025.
• Its Long Term Interest Rate (Long Term Interest Rate: Month End: South Korea: Treasury Bond Yield: 10 Years) was reported at 3.344 % pa in Nov 2025.
• The cash rate (Policy Rate: Month End: Base Rate: Bank of Korea) was set at 2.500 % pa in Nov 2025.