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Financial Calculators

Inflation Calculator

See how inflation changes prices and buying power.

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About the Inflation Calculator

Inflation quietly raises prices and shrinks what your money buys. Enter an amount, an average annual inflation rate, and a number of years to see both what that amount will cost in the future and how much of today's buying power survives. It's a useful reality check for retirement planning, salary negotiations, and long-term savings goals, where even 3% a year adds up dramatically over decades.

How to use the Inflation Calculator

  1. 01Enter your amount, average inflation rate, and number of years.
  2. 02Read the result instantly — it recalculates as you type.
  3. 03Adjust the numbers to model different scenarios.

Frequently asked questions

How does inflation affect my savings?

It erodes purchasing power — money not earning at least the inflation rate loses real value every year, which is why long-term savings are usually invested.

What inflation rate should I use?

Central banks target around 2%; long-run averages are closer to 3%. Use a higher figure to stress-test a plan.

Why does inflation matter for retirement?

Over a 20–30 year retirement, 3% inflation can roughly double the cost of living — so your income needs to grow, not stay flat.

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