Inflation Calculator
Calculate the future value of money or find what past amounts are worth today. Understand the true impact of inflation on your purchasing power.
Calculate Inflation Impact
Use India's average CPI inflation rate of ~6% or enter a custom rate for your analysis.
What is Inflation?
Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises over time, which correspondingly decreases the purchasing power of money. In India, inflation is measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI) published by the Ministry of Statistics.
India's Inflation History
- Average CPI inflation: ~6% per year over the last decade
- Food inflation: ~7–8% — rises faster than headline inflation
- Education inflation: ~10–12% — tuition and school fees rise sharply
- Healthcare inflation: ~10–14% — medical costs are rising rapidly
- Real estate: ~5–8% in most metros
Why This Matters for Investment Planning
- If inflation is 6%, your savings need to grow at more than 6% just to maintain purchasing power
- Fixed deposits at 6.5% barely beat inflation — your real returns are near zero
- Equity investments (Nifty 50 CAGR ~12%) provide better inflation-adjusted returns
- Retirement corpus planning must account for 20–30 years of inflation erosion
Inflation Formula
Future Value = Present Value × (1 + Inflation Rate)^Years
For example, a ₹50,000 car today will cost ₹89,542 in 10 years at 6% inflation. Planning with this formula ensures your savings target is realistic.