Inflation Calculator 📉
Purchasing power across years.
Your numbers
How to use this calculator
Enter today's amount in dollars.
Pick an annual inflation rate (long-run US average ≈ 3%).
Choose how many years out you want to project.
Read the equivalent amount and the purchasing-power drop.
Calculation method
Data source: BLS Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U); historical CPI table seeded for STEP 16 city/year drilldowns.
Last data update: May 24, 2026
Worked examples
$1,000 · 3% · 20 yrs
You need $1,806 to match $1,000 of purchasing power today.
$50,000 · 3% · 30 yrs
$1,000 · 7% · 5 yrs
Frequently asked questions
2–3% is the typical long-run average for the US. Use a higher rate (4–5%) if you want a conservative planning view.
The compound formula matches CPI only when actual inflation equals your assumed rate. Real CPI bounces year to year.
Cash held at 0% loses purchasing power every year inflation is positive. Even a 4% HYSA barely keeps up when inflation runs 3%.