Inflation Calculator
Calculate the impact of inflation on purchasing power over time. Compare buying power across years ("$100 in 1990 = $X today"), project future value erosion, and visualize a timeline chart of value changes. Default 3.22% US historical average rate with custom rate input.
Calculation Mode
"$100 in 1990 = $X today" — see what past money is worth now
Amount
$
Start Year
End Year
Annual Inflation Rate
%
Inflation Rate Presets
$100.00 in 1990 is equivalent to
$312.97
in 2026 dollars
Price Increase
$212.97
Total Change
+213.0%
Years
36
Purchasing Power Erosion
1990 Dollar$100.00
100%
Buying power of $100.00 (1990) in 2026$100.00
32%
68%
Retained Value Lost to Inflation
Equivalent Value Over Time
Year-by-Year Breakdown (37 years)
| Year | Equivalent Value | Purchasing Power |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | $100.00 | $100.00 |
| 1991 | $103.22 | $96.88 |
| 1992 | $106.54 | $93.86 |
| 1993 | $109.97 | $90.93 |
| 1994 | $113.52 | $88.09 |
| 1995 | $117.17 | $85.35 |
| 1996 | $120.94 | $82.68 |
| 1997 | $124.84 | $80.10 |
| 1998 | $128.86 | $77.60 |
| 1999 | $133.01 | $75.18 |
| 2000 | $137.29 | $72.84 |
| 2001 | $141.71 | $70.57 |
| 2002 | $146.27 | $68.36 |
| 2003 | $150.98 | $66.23 |
| 2004 | $155.85 | $64.17 |
| 2005 | $160.86 | $62.16 |
| 2006 | $166.04 | $60.23 |
| 2007 | $171.39 | $58.35 |
| 2008 | $176.91 | $56.53 |
| 2009 | $182.61 | $54.76 |
| 2010 | $188.49 | $53.05 |
| 2011 | $194.55 | $51.40 |
| 2012 | $200.82 | $49.80 |
| 2013 | $207.29 | $48.24 |
| 2014 | $213.96 | $46.74 |
| 2015 | $220.85 | $45.28 |
| 2016 | $227.96 | $43.87 |
| 2017 | $235.30 | $42.50 |
| 2018 | $242.88 | $41.17 |
| 2019 | $250.70 | $39.89 |
| 2020 | $258.77 | $38.64 |
| 2021 | $267.10 | $37.44 |
| 2022 | $275.70 | $36.27 |
| 2023 | $284.58 | $35.14 |
| 2024 | $293.75 | $34.04 |
| 2025 | $303.20 | $32.98 |
| 2026 | $312.97 | $31.95 |
Understanding Inflation
- The US historical average inflation rate is approximately 3.22% per year (since 1913)
- The Federal Reserve targets 2% annual inflation for price stability
- At 3% inflation, prices double roughly every 24 years (Rule of 72)
- Investments should outpace inflation to maintain real purchasing power
- Different categories (housing, healthcare, education) inflate at different rates
How to Use
- Enter your value in the input field
- Click the Calculate/Convert button
- Copy the result to your clipboard
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is inflation?
- Inflation is the rate at which prices increase over time, reducing purchasing power. If inflation is 3%, something costing $100 today costs $103 next year. Measured by Consumer Price Index (CPI). The Fed targets 2% annual inflation.
- What is the historical average inflation rate?
- US average inflation since 1913 is about 3.2% annually. Recent decades: 2.5-3%. 2021-2023 saw higher inflation (5-9%). Low inflation: 1-2%. Hyperinflation (rare in US) exceeds 50% monthly. Different categories inflate at different rates.
- How do I calculate inflation-adjusted value?
- Future purchasing power = Present Value ÷ (1 + inflation rate)^years. $100 at 3% inflation for 20 years = $100 ÷ 1.03^20 = $55.37 purchasing power. Alternatively: $100 today = $180.61 needed in 20 years to buy the same things.
- How does inflation affect savings?
- Savings earning less than inflation lose real value. At 3% inflation with 1% savings interest, you lose 2% purchasing power yearly. $10,000 becomes worth $8,200 in 10 years (in today's purchasing power). Invest to beat inflation.
- What causes inflation?
- Main causes: 1) Demand-pull: too much money chasing too few goods. 2) Cost-push: higher production costs passed to consumers. 3) Money supply: more currency printed reduces value. 4) Expectations: anticipated inflation becomes self-fulfilling.