Inflation Calculator
Calculate purchasing power changes over time, project future value needs, and explore historical US inflation rates from 1970 to present.
Purchasing Power Calculator
$100.00 in 2000 equals
$182.89
in 2024 purchasing power
Total Inflation
82.89%
Avg. Annual
2.55%
Over 24 years, prices increased by 82.89%, meaning you need $182.89 today to buy what $100.00 bought in 2000.
Historical US Inflation Rates
2005
3.39%
2006
3.23%
2007
2.85%
2008
3.84%
2009
-0.36%
2010
1.64%
2011
3.16%
2012
2.07%
2013
1.46%
2014
1.62%
2015
0.12%
2016
1.26%
2017
2.13%
2018
2.44%
2019
1.81%
2020
1.23%
2021
4.7%
2022
8%
2023
4.12%
2024
2.9%
Understanding Inflation
What is Inflation?
Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises over time, reducing the purchasing power of money. When inflation occurs, each unit of currency buys fewer goods and services than it did before.
The US Federal Reserve targets an annual inflation rate of about 2%, considering this healthy for economic growth. However, inflation rates vary significantly year to year based on economic conditions.
How Inflation is Measured
- CPI (Consumer Price Index): Tracks price changes for a basket of consumer goods and services
- PCE (Personal Consumption Expenditures): The Fed's preferred measure, broader than CPI
- Core Inflation: Excludes volatile food and energy prices
- GDP Deflator: Measures inflation across all domestically produced goods
The Impact of Inflation Over Time
Purchasing Power Erosion
$1 in 1970
≈ $8.03 today
$1 in 1990
≈ $2.38 today
$1 in 2000
≈ $1.82 today
$1 in 2010
≈ $1.43 today
Values are approximate and based on historical CPI data
Notable Inflation Periods in US History
1970s-1980s: The Great Inflation
Inflation peaked at 13.5% in 1980 due to oil shocks, loose monetary policy, and wage-price spirals. Federal Reserve Chair Paul Volcker raised interest rates to nearly 20% to finally bring inflation under control.
2008: Financial Crisis
Inflation spiked to 3.84% before the crisis, then briefly turned negative (-0.36%) in 2009 — a rare deflationary period as the economy contracted.
2021-2022: Post-Pandemic Surge
Inflation reached 8% in 2022, the highest since 1982, driven by supply chain disruptions, stimulus spending, and pent-up consumer demand following COVID-19.
Protecting Against Inflation
Inflation Hedges
- ✓TIPS (Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities)
Principal adjusts with inflation, guaranteed by US government
- ✓I-Bonds (Series I Savings Bonds)
Interest rate combines fixed rate plus inflation adjustment
- ✓Real Estate
Property values and rents typically rise with inflation
- ✓Equities (Stocks)
Companies can raise prices, historically outpace inflation long-term
Assets That Suffer
- ✗Cash and Savings Accounts
Interest rarely keeps pace with inflation
- ✗Fixed-Rate Bonds
Locked interest payments lose real value
- ✗Fixed Annuities
Payments don't adjust for rising prices
The Rule of 72
The Rule of 72 helps estimate how quickly prices double at a given inflation rate. Simply divide 72 by the annual inflation rate.
2% inflation
36 years
3% inflation
24 years
5% inflation
14 years
8% inflation
9 years
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is 2% inflation considered ideal?
The Federal Reserve targets 2% because it provides a buffer against deflation (falling prices, which can be economically damaging), allows for wage growth, and gives the Fed room to cut interest rates during recessions. Too-low inflation can lead to economic stagnation.
How does inflation affect different income groups?
Inflation typically hits lower-income households harder because they spend a larger percentage of income on necessities like food, housing, and energy. Higher-income households can more easily absorb price increases and often hold inflation-resistant assets.
What's the difference between inflation and hyperinflation?
Hyperinflation is extreme inflation, typically defined as 50%+ per month. It destroys a currency's value rapidly and often leads to economic collapse. Famous examples include Germany's Weimar Republic (1920s), Zimbabwe (2000s), and Venezuela (2010s).