← Back to Glossary
Inflation Adjustment
Definition
An inflation adjustment modifies financial figures to account for changes in purchasing power, allowing comparison of values across different time periods.
Explanation
Inflation adjustment is used in tax brackets (indexed annually), Social Security benefits (COLA), investment return calculations (real return), and long-term financial projections. Without adjustment, historical comparisons are misleading.
Financial calculators and planning tools typically include inflation assumptions to project future values in today's dollars.
Example
A salary of $50,000 in 2010 adjusted for 2.7% average annual inflation would need to be about $70,000 in 2024 to maintain purchasing power.