Inflation Calculator
Inflation is the one fee nobody ever bills you for — it just quietly shows up. See exactly what it does to your money over time, and why 'safe' cash isn't as safe as it feels.
The long-run US average is ~3%/yr.
What $10,000 buys in 20 yrs
$5,537
Purchasing power lost
−45%
Needed in 20 yrs to match today
$18,061
🐻 The silent fee: cash "safely" under the mattress at 3% inflation is a guaranteed loss of 45% over 20 years. That's why saving alone isn't a plan — your money has to grow at least as fast as prices do just to stand still.
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How this is calculated
Future buying power = amount ÷ (1 + inflation)ʸᵉᵃʳˢ. At 3% for 20 years, $10,000 buys what $5,537 buys today — a 45% loss with zero risk taken.
The mirror number: amount × (1 + inflation)ʸᵉᵃʳˢ is what you'll need later to match today's amount — essential for retirement targets set decades out.
This is why the savings account isn't the finish line: its interest must at least match inflation for your money to stand still, and beat it for you to actually gain ground. Real return = nominal return − inflation.
Common questions
What inflation rate should I assume?
The long-run US average is about 3%; the Fed targets 2%. Planning at 3% is the standard conservative choice — recent years remind us it can run far hotter for stretches.
Where does the inflation number even come from?
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) — the Bureau of Labor Statistics tracks the price of a representative basket of goods and services monthly. Your personal inflation differs based on what you actually buy (housing, healthcare, and education have often outpaced the average).
How do I protect savings from inflation?
Match the tool to the timeline: high-yield accounts for near-term money, diversified investments for long-term money (stocks have historically outrun inflation by ~7%), and I-Bonds/TIPS as directly inflation-linked options. The one guaranteed loser over decades is cash earning nothing.
Go deeper
Why your money must grow — investing fundamentals
This math is taught step-by-step in Module 5 of the Bear Bankroll Wealth System — with interactive worksheets that run the numbers on YOUR situation.
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Educational tool only — estimates, not financial advice. Your numbers stay in your browser and are never sent to our servers.