What is Inflation?
Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises, causing purchasing power to fall. Put simply: over time, your money buys less.
The Silent Thief
US Historical Inflation Rates
| Period | Average Annual Rate |
|---|---|
| 1913-2023 (all) | 3.22% |
| 1990-2023 | 2.56% |
| 2000-2023 | 2.52% |
| 2020-2023 | 5.09% |
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI data
How Inflation Affects You
- Savings lose value if interest doesn't keep up
- Fixed income (pensions, bonds) buys less over time
- Long-term contracts and salaries may not keep pace
- Retirement planning requires higher targets
- Home prices and rents typically rise with inflation
Cash is Losing Value
Beating Inflation
| Investment | Historical Return | Beats Inflation? |
|---|---|---|
| Checking account | 0-0.1% | ❌ No |
| Regular savings | 0.5-1% | ❌ No |
| High-yield savings | 4-5% | ✅ Yes (barely) |
| Bonds (total market) | 4-5% | ✅ Yes |
| S&P 500 index | 10-11% | ✅ Yes |
| Real estate | 4-8% | ✅ Yes |
Historical returns do not guarantee future results
Rule of 72
Inflation and Retirement
Inflation has an outsized impact on retirement planning:
- A 30-year retirement means prices could double twice
- Social Security has COLA adjustments, but they may not fully keep pace
- Healthcare inflation typically exceeds general inflation
- Fixed pensions lose value every year without adjustments
Example: If you need $50,000/year now, you'll need about $90,000/year in 20 years at 3% inflation to maintain the same lifestyle.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What causes inflation?
A: Many factors: increased money supply, rising production costs, strong consumer demand, supply chain disruptions, and government spending.
Q: Is some inflation good?
A: Central banks target ~2% inflation as healthy. It encourages spending over hoarding and allows wages to adjust. Deflation (falling prices) can be worse.
Q: How do I protect against inflation?
A: Invest in assets that historically outpace inflation: stocks, real estate, I-bonds, TIPS, and commodities. Avoid holding too much cash.
Q: What is real return vs nominal return?
A: Nominal return is the stated return. Real return subtracts inflation. If you earn 7% but inflation is 3%, your real return is ~4%.
Q: Why do prices seem to rise faster than inflation reports?
A: CPI measures a broad basket. Your personal inflation depends on your spending. Housing, healthcare, and education often rise faster than overall CPI.
This calculator uses historical average inflation rates for estimates. Actual inflation varies year-to-year and future rates are unpredictable.