Inflation calculator

See how much your money loses to inflation over time. Free calculator showing future vs today's purchasing power.

The default 3% rate is an editable illustration, not a forecast. This tool applies your entered rate; it does not fetch CPI data or predict future inflation.

How this inflation calculator works

The calculator models a constant annual rate that you choose. To estimate a future cost, multiply today's cost by (1 + rate)^years. To express a future amount in today's purchasing power, divide by the same factor. Actual price changes vary over time and across households, so a fixed-rate output is a scenario rather than a forecast.

Example: $10,000 at a fixed 3% assumption

These figures show the arithmetic for a constant input rate; they are not expected CPI values.

10 years: about $13,439 to buy the same basket.
20 years: about $18,061 to buy the same basket; a fixed $10,000 has about $5,537 of today's purchasing power.
30 years: about $24,273 to buy the same basket.

Historical CPI data and policy targets

For historical U.S. consumer prices: use the BLS CPI-U calculator, which uses annual-average CPI for past years and the latest monthly index for the current year. This Snowballr calculator does not retrieve historical CPI data.
For monetary policy: the Federal Reserve's 2% longer-run objective is based on PCE inflation, a different price index from CPI-U; it is not a forecast for your expenses.
For your own budget: a national price index may differ from your personal spending because household baskets and locations vary.

For a product-specific comparison, TreasuryDirect describes how inflation affects TIPS principal and how the inflation component of Series I bond rates resets. These products have distinct terms; this calculator does not model their cash flows, taxes, or market prices.

Primary sources

FAQ

What does this inflation calculator estimate?

It applies the annual rate you enter to estimate future cost and equivalent purchasing power. The rate is an assumption for a mathematical scenario, not a forecast. For historical U.S. consumer prices, use the BLS CPI-U series; the Federal Reserve's 2% longer-run objective is measured with PCE prices, not CPI-U.

How much will $10,000 need after 20 years at 3% inflation?

With a fixed 3% annual assumption, the same basket would cost about $18,061. A fixed $10,000 would have purchasing power equal to about $5,537 today. This is an illustration, not a prediction of inflation.

How should I compare savings or investment returns with inflation?

Compare several inflation scenarios with the product's return after fees and taxes. Also consider access to the money, price changes, and the time horizon. No investment guarantees a positive return above future inflation.

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