Inflation Calculator: Purchasing Power Under Your Assumptions

Compare the purchasing power of a fixed cash amount with a hypothetical investment scenario. Enter your own rates; this is not a historical gold, stock or bond backtest.

Content reviewed: October 2, 2026. Rates and amounts have no preset investment recommendation.

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Three values with different meanings

Fixed cash purchasing power = starting cash ÷ (1 + inflation) raised to the number of years. Investment nominal value compounds the assumed return. Investment purchasing power then adjusts that nominal result for the assumed inflation.

The fixed cash case assumes no interest. An interest-bearing account needs its own return assumption. The investment case could represent any hypothetical exposure; the calculator does not establish that gold will earn that return or reliably offset inflation.

Limits of this illustration

Both rates remain constant. Fees, taxes, contributions, withdrawals and changing annual conditions are excluded. A historical comparison would need dated source data, consistent valuation dates, an identified gold benchmark and the appropriate total-return measures for other assets.

Read investment ownership choices and the 2025 historical gold review for an example of distinguishing price measures.

Featured precious-metals companies

Our commercial partners receive prominent commercial placement. We may earn compensation through their links. Their placement and the calculator result do not establish investment suitability or verified performance.

The company directory also includes Advantage Gold, Birch Gold Group, Noble Gold Investments, Preserve Gold and Priority Gold with official links.