in current dollars

USAGE SUMMARY

"in current dollars" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to refer to the current price of something. For example, "The theater ticket cost $20 in current dollars".

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Formal & Business

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

56 human-written examples

(That's about $750 million in current dollars).

The New York Times

Also, the trade deficit is a record in current dollars.

The Guardian - Business

That's a modest proposal; in 1968, the minimum wage, in current dollars, was $10.95.

The New Yorker

These figures, too, are in current dollars, not adjusted for inflation.

The New York Times

Measured in current dollars, it gives a better link to taxation revenue than real GDP.

The Guardian - Business

(These figures are calculated in current dollars, as are all the others I shall cite).

The New Yorker

Our chart looks at their GDP in current dollars at market exchange rates.

The Economist

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

4 human-written examples

But lower oil prices pushed per capita income down from $28,600 in current dollars in 1981 to $7,230 in 2000.

The New York Times

With so few other choices, their wages were lousy ($139 in current dollars for a six-day week in 1935) and their white bosses could treat them abysmally.

The Economist

A Model T Ford typically sold for $550 at the time, about $11,500 in current dollars.

The New York Times

In 1980, the top marginal rate was 70 percent for families making more than $215,400 — about $587,000 in current dollars.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When comparing monetary values across different time periods, use "in current dollars" to ensure clarity that the figures are not adjusted for inflation, avoiding potential misinterpretations.

Common error

Avoid assuming that amounts "in current dollars" reflect actual purchasing power over time. These figures do not account for inflation, so use inflation-adjusted measures for accurate comparisons.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "in current dollars" functions as an adverbial modifier, specifying that a monetary value is being expressed in nominal terms, without adjustment for inflation. It clarifies the basis of the dollar amount being discussed, as Ludwig's examples demonstrate.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

66%

Science

16%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Wiki

7%

Encyclopedias

0%

Social Media

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "in current dollars" is a common and grammatically sound way to specify that a monetary value is expressed in nominal terms, without adjusting for inflation. As Ludwig AI explains, it functions as an adverbial modifier to ensure clarity in financial discussions. Its usage is most frequent in news and media, followed by science and business contexts. When writing, remember that amounts "in current dollars" don't reflect actual purchasing power over time; for accurate comparisons, use inflation-adjusted measures instead.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

in today's money

Highlights the value of money adjusted to the present.

present-day value

Highlights value expressed in today's economic conditions.

at today's prices

Focuses on the present price level of goods or services.

in real terms

Indicates that figures are adjusted for inflation, showing actual purchasing power.

adjusted for inflation

Specifies that the value has been adjusted to account for inflation over time.

current value

Emphasizes the present worth of an asset or currency.

nominal value today

Focuses on the unadjusted face value at the present time.

expressed in current currency

Indicates that the amount is shown using the present currency values.

at the present exchange rate

Highlights the currency conversion value based on today's rate.

present economic conditions

Refers to current economic status.

FAQs

What does "in current dollars" mean?

The phrase "in current dollars" refers to monetary values expressed in the nominal value of the currency at the time, without adjusting for inflation. It reflects the actual dollar amount at that specific point in time.

How do I use "in current dollars" in a sentence?

You can use "in current dollars" to specify that a particular amount is being reported without adjusting for inflation. For instance, "The project cost $1 million "in current dollars" in 1990" indicates that the value is not adjusted for inflation.

What's the difference between "in current dollars" and "adjusted for inflation"?

"In current dollars" represents nominal values without considering inflation, while "adjusted for inflation" (also known as "in real terms") shows values that have been corrected to reflect their equivalent purchasing power in a base year. Using inflation-adjusted figures allows for meaningful comparisons across different time periods.

Are there alternatives to saying "in current dollars"?

Yes, you can use phrases like "at today's prices", "in today's money", or "nominal dollars" to convey a similar meaning. However, "in current dollars" is a widely recognized and understood term.