About Australian Inflation Calculator

The Australian Inflation Calculator is designed to provide an intuitive way to understand how inflation has affected the value of money over time. Using official Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) Consumer Price Index (CPI) data, our calculator helps visualize the changing purchasing power of the Australian dollar from 1948 to the present day.

What is Inflation?

Inflation is the rate at which the general level of prices for goods and services rises, causing purchasing power to fall over time. In other words, as inflation increases, every dollar buys fewer goods and services. Central banks, like the Reserve Bank of Australia, typically aim to keep inflation at a low and stable rate, as high inflation can disrupt economies while deflation (negative inflation) can lead to economic stagnation.

Consumer Price Index (CPI)

The CPI is one of the most widely used measures of inflation. In Australia, the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) calculates the CPI by measuring the percentage change in the price of a "basket" of goods and services that represents the spending patterns of Australian households.

The CPI covers a wide range of goods and services, including:

• Food and non-alcoholic beverages
• Housing and household utilities
• Transportation costs
• Healthcare expenses
• Recreation and culture
• Education
• And other everyday expenses

How Our Calculator Works

Our inflation calculator uses the official ABS CPI data (Series ID: A2325846C) to perform its calculations. The data spans from September 1948 to the present day, with quarterly measurements.

The calculator can perform two primary functions:

• Dollar Value Calculator: Calculate what a specific dollar amount from one period would be worth in another period, adjusted for inflation.
• Inflation Rate Calculator: Calculate the total and average annual inflation rate between any two periods.

Additionally, the calculator provides historical inflation data in both chart and table format, helping you understand inflation trends over time.

Data Sources

All inflation data used in this calculator comes from the Australian Bureau of Statistics' Consumer Price Index (Series ID: A2325846C). This official data provides a reliable basis for our calculations and ensures that the results reflect the actual changes in purchasing power over time in Australia.

Australian Bureau of Statistics (March 2025) 'Table 1. CPI: All Groups, Index Numbers and Percentage Changes' [time series spreadsheet], Consumer Price Index, Australia, accessed 11 May 2025.

Available at: https://www.abs.gov.au/statistics/economy/price-indexes-and-inflation/consumer-price-index-australia/mar-quarter-2025

Contact Us

For questions, feedback, or suggestions about the Australian Inflation Calculator, please contact us at:

Email: [email protected]