Using the Inflation Calculator responsibly
Page-specific guidance based on this calculator’s implemented method, inputs, and known limits.
What this result is useful for
Use historical mode to compare purchasing amounts using the embedded U.S. CPI-U observations, or use a flat-rate mode to explore a hypothetical future or past equivalent. Historical CPI and a chosen constant rate answer different questions and should not be mixed.
Assumptions and limits
CPI-U measures an average market basket for U.S. urban consumers; it is not a personal cost-of-living index. Flat-rate projections assume one unchanged annual rate. Neither mode forecasts the price of a specific home, security, medical service, or local basket.
How to check the result
Confirm the starting and ending month, not only the year, and check that historical mode reports both CPI observations. Reverse the dates to see whether the conversion approximately returns to the starting amount, allowing for display rounding.