How the CPI Is Calculated

The Consumer Price Index (CPI-U), published monthly by the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), measures inflation by tracking a "basket" of goods and services that the average urban US consumer buys:

How to Beat Inflation

The antidote to inflation erosion is investing in assets that grow faster than inflation:

How Inflation Affects Retirement Planning

If you need $60,000/year in today's dollars and you retire in 25 years, you'll actually need 25,000+/year in nominal terms at 3% inflation to maintain the same lifestyle. This is why retirement calculators must adjust for inflation — and why the 4% rule uses inflation-adjusted withdrawals. See our Retirement Calculator for full inflation-adjusted projections.

What Is Inflation? How the CPI Measures the Erosion of Your Purchasing Power

Learn what inflation is, how the Consumer Price Index (CPI) measures it, and the real impact of even moderate inflation on your savings, salary, and retirement plans over 10, 20, and 30 years.