Online Tool Store
Inflation Calculator
Project how inflation changes prices and purchasing power over time using your chosen annual rate, for free entirely in your browser.
🔒 This tool runs entirely in your browser. Your files are never uploaded to a server.
Equivalent future cost
$1,343.92
Purchasing power
$744.09
Price increase
$343.92
Cumulative inflation
34.39%
| Year | Equivalent cost | Cumulative change |
|---|
Projection only. This uses the constant rate you enter, not live or historical CPI data.
How inflation is calculated
- Enter an amount and the period you want to project.
- Enter an average annual inflation rate.
- Review the equivalent future cost, purchasing power, cumulative change, and yearly breakdown.
The formulas
Inflation compounds in the same way as compound growth. The equivalent future cost is amount × (1 + rate)years. The future purchasing power of an unchanged amount is amount ÷ (1 + rate)years. The rate is converted from a percentage to a decimal before calculation.
Example: 1,000 growing at 3% inflation for 10 years has an equivalent cost of 1,343.92. An unchanged 1,000 would retain purchasing power equivalent to about 744.09 today.
FAQ
What does the future cost result mean?
It estimates how much money would be needed at the end of the period to buy what the starting amount buys today, assuming the entered rate remains constant.
What does purchasing power mean here?
It estimates how much today’s buying power the same unchanged amount would retain after inflation. At positive inflation, purchasing power falls even though the number of currency units stays the same.
Does this calculator use historical CPI data?
No. It is a projection using the constant annual rate you enter. Use an official national statistics calculator when you need country-specific historical CPI comparisons.
Can I enter a negative inflation rate?
Yes. A rate below zero models deflation, which lowers the projected equivalent cost and increases the future purchasing power of an unchanged amount.
Are my financial values saved or uploaded?
No. The calculation runs entirely in your browser, and the amount, years, rate, and selected currency are not uploaded to Online Tool Store.
How we compare
| Feature | Online Tool Store | US BLS | Bank of Canada |
|---|---|---|---|
| Calculation basis | Your chosen constant rate | US CPI-U data | Canadian monthly CPI data |
| Future-rate scenarios | Any rate and period up to 100 years | Historical CPI comparison | Historical CPI comparison |
| Annual projection table | Included | Single comparison result | Comparison summary |
Choose the US Bureau of Labor Statistics or Bank of Canada calculators for official historical CPI comparisons in their countries. Choose Online Tool Store Inflation Calculator for a private, flexible future scenario using your own assumed rate, with a year-by-year projection.