Personal Inflation Rate Calculator
The official inflation rate is an average. Enter what you actually spend each month to see your own inflation rate and how much more your lifestyle costs than a year ago.
Last reviewed September 2026 · How this calculator works
If you drive a lot, your inflation rate this year is probably higher than the headline number. If you have a fixed-rate mortgage, it's probably lower. This calculator weights the latest 12-month price changes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics by your monthly spending.
Your monthly spending
| Category | 12-month price change | Your monthly spend | Extra per year |
|---|
The price changes behind this calculator
| Category | Price change, Aug 2025 – Aug 2026 |
|---|---|
| All items (headline CPI) | +3.4% |
| Gasoline | +27.4% |
| Electricity | +3.8% |
| Apparel | +3.6% |
| Food away from home | +3.4% |
| Owners' equivalent rent | +3.1% |
| Rent of primary residence | +2.7% |
| Medical care services | +2.5% |
| All items less food and energy (core) | +2.4% |
| Food at home | +2.2% |
| New vehicles | +0.6% |
| Used cars and trucks | −2.3% |
| Motor vehicle insurance | −5.1% |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index news release for August 2026 (released September 11, 2026), 12-month unadjusted changes, CPI-U.
Worked example
With this calculator's default budget, about $4,980 a month for a renter, the personal inflation rate is about 3.4%, right at the national average, and the same lifestyle costs about $2,052 more per year than a year ago. Most of that extra comes from gasoline, even though it's only 5% of the budget.
Switch housing to fixed-rate mortgage and the rate drops to about 2.5%, because the largest expense doesn't change at all. Double the gasoline budget to $500, as a long-distance commuter might, and the rate climbs to about 4.6%.
Why your number differs from the headline rate
The CPI weights each category by how much the average urban household spends on it. Shelter alone is about 35% of the index. Your weights are different: a renter in an expensive city, a retiree with a paid-off home, and a commuter with a long drive all feel inflation differently. Read more in why your personal inflation rate is different.
Related guides
- Why Your Personal Inflation Rate Is Different From the CPI
- What Inflation Really Means for Your Everyday Costs
- Is Your Raise Beating Inflation? How to Calculate Your Real Pay
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Frequently asked questions
What is a personal inflation rate?
It's the inflation rate for your own spending, calculated by weighting price changes in each category by how much of your budget goes to it. It can be well above or below the official CPI.
Why does a fixed-rate mortgage lower my inflation rate?
Because your principal and interest payment doesn't rise with prices. Property taxes and insurance can still increase, so enter those under “Everything else” if you'd like to include them.
Where does the price data come from?
From the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index release for August 2026, using each category's 12-month change. We update these figures periodically.
Why is gasoline having such a big effect?
Gasoline prices rose 27.4% over the 12 months to August 2026, far faster than most other categories. Even a modest gas budget can add several hundred dollars a year.