Inflation Calculator

See how inflation changes the value of your money over time

Interactive Tool
Note: This calculator uses the CPI-U (Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers) for historical data. Future projections use your chosen inflation rate. Actual inflation varies by location and spending habits.
💵 Amount & Timeframe
?Past → Today: what was money from the past worth today? Today → Past: what would today's money have bought in the past?
What was money from the past worth today?
?Enter any dollar amount to see how its purchasing power changes over time due to inflation.
The amount in the starting year
?The year your dollar amount is based in. For example, to see what $100 from 2000 is worth today, set start year to 2000.
?The year you want to compare to. Set to 2026 to see today's equivalent, or a future year to project forward.
📊 Inflation Rate
?Choose "Historical CPI" to use actual US inflation data (available 1913-2025). For future years or custom scenarios, use a custom rate.

💡 How Inflation Works

Inflation means prices rise over time, so each dollar buys less. At 3% annual inflation, prices roughly double every 24 years. This is why a movie ticket that cost $5 in 2000 costs over $12 today.

Understanding inflation helps you plan savings, negotiate salaries, and evaluate investment returns in "real" (inflation-adjusted) terms.

Equivalent Value
$183
$100 in 2000 → $183 in 2026
Original Amount
$100
Total Inflation
83.3%
Avg. Annual Rate
2.4%
Purchasing Power Lost
-$83
Purchasing Power $100
Lost to Inflation $83
📈 Year-by-Year Breakdown
Year Rate Value

📚 Understanding Inflation

What Causes Inflation?

Inflation can be driven by increased demand (demand-pull), rising production costs (cost-push), or expansion of the money supply. Central banks like the Federal Reserve try to maintain stable inflation around 2% annually.

The Rule of 72

Divide 72 by the inflation rate to estimate how many years it takes for prices to double. At 3% inflation, prices double in about 24 years. At 6%, they double in just 12 years.

Protecting Against Inflation

Invest in assets that historically outpace inflation: stocks, real estate, TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities), and I Bonds. Keeping too much cash loses purchasing power over time.

Real vs Nominal Returns

If your investment earns 7% but inflation is 3%, your "real" return is only about 4%. Always consider inflation when evaluating investment performance or salary increases.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

What is inflation?
Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises over time, reducing the purchasing power of money. A dollar today buys less than a dollar did 10 years ago.

What is the average inflation rate in the US?
The long-term average US inflation rate is approximately 3.2% per year based on CPI data from 1913 to 2025. However, recent years have seen higher-than-average inflation, with 2022 reaching 8.0% before moderating.

How does inflation affect my savings?
If your savings earn less interest than the inflation rate, your money loses purchasing power over time. At 3% inflation, $100 today will only buy about $74 worth of goods in 10 years.

What is CPI?
CPI stands for Consumer Price Index. It's a measure published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics that tracks the average change in prices paid by consumers for a basket of goods and services.