Purchasing Power / Inflation Calculator
See what an amount of money in the past is worth in today\u2019s dollars, or vice versa, using US CPI data.
Inputs
Equivalent value
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Total inflation
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Average annual inflation
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CPI multiplier
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Reverse purchasing power
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About Purchasing Power / Inflation Calculator
CPI vs core CPI
Headline CPI includes food & energy (volatile). Core CPI excludes them. The Fed targets a 2% annual core PCE inflation rate. This calculator uses headline CPI-U from BLS.
Why CPI understates inflation for some
CPI tracks a broad basket. Your personal inflation rate may be higher if you spend more on housing, healthcare, or college, which have outpaced general CPI for decades.
Real vs nominal returns
A 7% investment return during 3% inflation is a 4% real return. For wealth comparison over time, always use real (inflation-adjusted) values.