How to Use the Inflation Calculator
- Choose a mode — "Future Projection" estimates how prices will rise, "Historical Lookup" shows actual past inflation in India.
- Enter the amount — The value of goods, services, or savings you want to analyze.
- Set the rate and period — For future mode, set expected inflation (India average: ~6%). For past mode, select start and end years.
- Review results — See the future cost of goods, your money's purchasing power loss, and cumulative inflation impact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the current inflation rate in India?India's CPI inflation was approximately 4.5-5% in 2024-25. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) targets 4% inflation with a tolerance band of 2-6%. Food inflation has been higher at 6-8% in recent years.How does inflation affect my savings?If your savings earn less than the inflation rate, you're losing purchasing power. For example, a savings account paying 3.5% while inflation is 6% means you're losing 2.5% real value annually. Your ₹1 lakh will buy only ₹77,000 worth of goods in 10 years.What is the difference between CPI and WPI inflation?CPI (Consumer Price Index) measures retail price changes for consumers — this is what affects your daily expenses. WPI (Wholesale Price Index) measures wholesale price changes. RBI uses CPI as the primary measure for monetary policy since 2014.How can I protect my money from inflation?Invest in assets that beat inflation: equity mutual funds (10-15% returns), real estate (8-10%), gold (8-10%), inflation-indexed bonds, and PPF (7.1%). Avoid keeping too much in savings accounts (3.5-4%) which barely keep up with inflation.What is real return vs nominal return?Nominal return is the raw percentage your investment earns. Real return = Nominal return - Inflation rate. If a fixed deposit gives 7% and inflation is 6%, your real return is only 1%. Equity investments historically provide 6-8% real returns in India.How much will ₹1 lakh be worth in 20 years?At 6% inflation, ₹1 lakh today will have the purchasing power of only ₹31,180 in 20 years. You would need ₹3.21 lakh in 20 years to buy what ₹1 lakh buys today.