How It Works

Understanding the methodology behind ValPal's calculations

Data Sources

ValPal uses official U.S. government inflation data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) Consumer Price Index (CPI) to calculate real purchasing power over time.

Historical CPI data: 2013-2025
Updated regularly with official government releases
All calculations performed locally in your browser

Deflator (Purchasing Power)

The deflator shows how much purchasing power you've lost (or gained) over time:

Real Value = Nominal Value / (1 + Cumulative Inflation %)

For example, if you earned $60,000 in 2013 and still earn $60,000 today, the calculator shows what that salary is actually worth in 2013 dollars after accounting for inflation.

Inflator (Expected Prices)

The inflator shows what prices should be if they kept pace with inflation:

Expected Value = Original Value × (1 + Cumulative Inflation %)

For example, if something cost $100 in 2013, the calculator shows what it should cost today if it increased at the rate of inflation.

Privacy & Security

Your financial data never leaves your device:

All calculations happen in your browser using JavaScript
Data is stored locally using browser storage
No server uploads, no tracking, no accounts required
Export your data anytime in JSON format