Inflation & Purchasing Power Calculator
Calculate the purchasing power of money across decades using historical CPI data (1950–2026). See what your money could buy then vs. now, compare against gold, and discover how much value has been lost to inflation.
How to use
- 1Enter an amount and select your Start Year and End Year
- 2See the inflation-adjusted equivalent value instantly
- 3Check "What could you buy?" to explore real-world purchasing comparisons
- 4Toggle "Compare vs Gold" to see how gold preserved value vs cash
- 5Share your result via URL — state is synced automatically
Frequently Asked Questions — Inflation & Purchasing Power Calculator
What is CPI and how is it used here?+
CPI (Consumer Price Index) measures the average change in prices paid by consumers for goods and services. We use historical US BLS CPI data from 1950–2026 to calculate how much an amount from one year is worth in another year. Formula: Adjusted = Amount × (CPI_end / CPI_start).
Why does the gold comparison matter?+
Gold is historically seen as a store of value. While $1,000 in 1970 lost 95%+ of its purchasing power by 2026, the same amount invested in gold (at 1970's ~$35/oz) would now be worth $70,000+. This vividly shows the difference between cash and hard assets.