Inflation Calculator
Estimate how inflation changes an amount's nominal value and purchasing power.
Currency formatting only. No official CPI history or conversion is loaded; enter the rate you want to test.
Flat-rate inflation estimate
Choose a direction, then enter an amount, annual inflation assumption, and number of years.
Value over time
Projection uses the same assumed annual rate for every year.
Amount and price adjustment share
Year-by-year estimate
| Year | Equivalent amount | Change from input |
|---|
Detailed Breakdown
Future amount
Choose Future amount to estimate the money required later to match
today's amount:
future = present * (1 + rate)years.
Past equivalent
Choose Past equivalent to estimate what a future amount would equal
in today's money:
past = future / (1 + rate)years.
Rate source
This version uses a flat annual rate that you enter. The rate may represent a personal assumption or a sourced average; it is not live CPI data and does not model country-specific price baskets.
Limits
Actual inflation varies over time and differs between households and categories. This projection does not forecast future CPI or purchasing behavior.
Examples
At an assumed steady 3% annual inflation rate, an amount of 100 today corresponds to about 134.39 after 10 years. This illustrates the formula; it is not a country's inflation forecast.
FAQ
Does this use official historical inflation data?
No. Enter the rate assumption yourself. The calculator does not load an official consumer price index series.
Why can past and future estimates differ?
The direction changes how the assumed cumulative rate is applied: future cost compounds forward, while the past equivalent reverses that change.
Does this estimate investment returns?
No. It estimates purchasing-power change only. Use the Investment Calculator for a nominal growth projection.
Related Calculators
- Present Value Calculator — discount a future amount.
- Future Value Calculator — project value using a chosen rate.
- Investment Calculator — project nominal investment value.
Internal links: compare purchasing power with the Present Value Calculator and nominal growth with the Investment Calculator.