Inflation Impact

See how inflation affects purchasing power over time.

Formula & Methodology

Future value in today's dollars = nominal amount / (1 + inflation rate)^years.

Worked Example

$100,000 at 3% inflation for 20 years has the purchasing power of about $55,400 in today's dollars.

Frequently Asked Questions

What inflation rate should I use?

A long-term U.S. average of about 2.5–3% is common for planning. Use a higher rate for conservative scenarios.

Why does purchasing power decline?

Rising prices mean each dollar buys less over time, so a fixed nominal amount loses real value the longer it sits uninvested.

Does this account for wage growth?

No. It only adjusts a fixed amount for price inflation. Wages may rise at a different rate than prices.

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