What money is worth after inflation — forward or backward in time.
Equivalent amount
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Total change
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Purchasing power kept
Value over time
Uses a single constant annual inflation rate you choose, compounded yearly. Real-world inflation (CPI) varies year to year and by country — treat this as an estimate, not a historical record.
How this works
Future value (nominal, keeps pace with inflation) = Amount × (1 + rate)^years
Past value (today's equivalent of a past amount) = Amount × (1 + rate)^years
Purchasing power of today's amount, N years ahead = Amount ÷ (1 + rate)^years
Region
Typical long-run average
United States
~3% a year
Eurozone
~2% a year
United Kingdom
~3% a year
India
~5-6% a year
Long-run averages only — annual inflation swings well above and below these figures.
At 3% inflation, prices roughly double every 24 years (the rule of 72: 72 ÷ 3).
"Future value" here means the nominal amount you would need later to buy what your amount buys today — not an investment return.
To see what today's amount will be worth in real (inflation-adjusted) terms in the future, use the future-value tab's "purchasing power kept" figure.
Currency
Amounts follow the currency selected above.
What is the difference between the two tabs?
Future value answers "what will this amount be worth to buy in N years, in future dollars?" Past value answers "what is a past amount worth in today's dollars?" Both use the same compounding formula, just applied in opposite directions.
What inflation rate should I use?
For a rough long-run US or UK estimate, 2-3% a year is typical; other countries run higher. Check your national statistics office for the actual historical CPI if you need precision rather than an estimate.
Why does purchasing power fall even if my salary stays the same?
Because prices rise while the number of dollars you hold does not, each dollar buys a little less every year. A salary that does not rise with inflation is effectively a pay cut in real terms.