Inflation Calculator
See how inflation erodes money: convert a past or present amount into its future value at any inflation rate, and find the equivalent purchasing power.
About this tool
This inflation calculator shows how a fixed amount changes in purchasing power over time at any assumed average inflation rate. Enter an amount, a horizon and a rate to see both the future value and the reverse interpretation: how much money you would need in the future to buy what the amount buys today.
Use the tool to review pensions, insurance payouts, loan payments and long-term budgets. Money at 3% inflation halves its purchasing power roughly every 24 years — numbers like that are why long-term planning has to be nominal.
FAQ
What is the average US inflation rate?
The long-run US average is about 3% per year, though recent years ranged from 2% to over 8%. The Fed targets 2%.
How do I adjust a salary for inflation?
Multiply the salary by (1 + inflation rate)^years. $50k at 3% for 10 years equals $67.2k in future purchasing power.
Can inflation go negative?
Yes — deflation. Historically it is rare and short, but the formula works with a negative rate as well.