FigCalc LogoFigCalc

Inflation Calculator

Compare purchasing power across years with BLS CPI-U annual averages and optional future projections.

Historical CPI vs. Future Projection

Historical years:

Years from 1913 through 2024 use embedded BLS CPI-U annual averages.

Future years:

Years after 2024 use your selected annual projection rate, compounded from the latest CPI value.

Amount & Years

Choose the amount and the years you want to compare.

Price, salary, savings, or budget amount in the source year.

$

Historical CPI is available from 1913 through 2024.

Use up to 2074; years after 2024 are projected.

Only used for target years after 2024.

%

Data Source

Historical conversion uses national CPI-U annual averages.

BLS CPI-U, U.S. city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted

Source series: CUUR0000SA0 . This page is a FigCalc conversion tool, not an official BLS publication.

Purchasing Power Result

CPI-adjusted value, cumulative inflation, and annualized change.

--
Adjusted Amount
Target-year dollars
--
Buying Power
If the amount stayed unchanged
--
Cumulative Inflation
Total CPI change
--
Annualized Rate
Average yearly change

Conversion Details

Required increase
--
Buying power change
--
Source CPI index
--
Target CPI index
--

Inflation Check

Enter an amount and year range to compare purchasing power.

Purchasing Power Over Time

CPI-adjusted amount compared with the unchanged source amount.

Enter an amount and year range to render the purchasing-power chart.

How Inflation Math Works

The historical portion uses CPI index ratios; future years use a clearly separated projection assumption.

Use annual CPI ratios

Historical conversions divide the target-year CPI-U annual average by the source-year CPI-U annual average.

Project beyond CPI history

For years after the latest complete CPI year, the selected future inflation rate compounds from the latest CPI index.

Separate prices from income

The result shows purchasing power, not whether wages, investments, or local living costs kept pace for a specific household.

CPI-U is a broad national index. It can be useful for purchasing-power comparisons, but it does not replace local cost-of-living research, household-specific budgeting, or official escalation clauses.

Inflation Decision Guide

Use CPI-adjusted values as context, then test the parts of your budget that actually move.

Budget Planning

Use the adjusted amount to translate an old price, expense, or savings goal into a comparable target-year dollar amount.

Raise Context

Compare cumulative inflation against salary growth to see whether a nominal raise preserved buying power.

Future Assumptions

When projecting beyond historical CPI, test multiple rates. Small annual changes compound into large long-term differences.

Inflation Calculator FAQ

Common questions about CPI, projections, and purchasing power.

What CPI data does this calculator use?

The historical conversion uses BLS CPI-U annual averages for U.S. city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted, currently included from 1913 through 2024.

Why does the calculator ask for a future inflation rate?

BLS CPI data is historical. If the target year is after the latest complete annual CPI year in this build, the calculator compounds the selected future inflation rate after the historical CPI period.

Is this the same as a cost-of-living calculator?

No. CPI-U is a broad national price index. A cost-of-living comparison can vary by city, housing, taxes, spending mix, and household needs.