Inflation Shock Calculator
Mind-blowing price comparisons across decades! See how samosa, chai, petrol, movie tickets, and everyday items have changed since 1970. Prepare to be shocked!
💥 Biggest Price Shockers
🌟 Relatively Good Deals (Lower Inflation)
💰 What Rs 100 Could Buy
📊 Complete Price Comparison
| Item | 2000 | 2025 | Increase | Multiplier |
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How to Use the Inflation Shock Calculator
- Select a Year: Use the slider or click decade buttons to pick any year from 1970 to 2020.
- Filter Categories: Toggle categories to focus on specific types of items (Food, Transport, Entertainment, etc.).
- View Price Table: See all items with their historical and current prices, percentage increase, and multiplier.
- Check Purchasing Power: Compare salary growth vs inflation to understand if you're better or worse off.
- Share Results: Shock your friends with mind-blowing price comparisons!
Understanding Inflation in India
Inflation erodes the purchasing power of money over time. What Rs 100 could buy decades ago is vastly different from today.
Official vs Felt Inflation
Official CPI: The government's Consumer Price Index tracks a basket of goods and shows 5-7% annual inflation.
Felt Inflation: The prices you actually notice - street food, auto fares, movie tickets, rent - often feel like they're rising faster than official figures suggest.
Why the Gap? CPI includes items whose prices have fallen (electronics, clothing) which offset food and service inflation. Your daily expenses may not include these items.
Winners and Losers
Items That Beat Inflation: Electronics, clothing, some food items have become relatively cheaper due to technology and global supply chains.
Items That Outpaced Inflation: Property, gold, healthcare, education, and services have consistently risen faster than general inflation.
Salary vs Cost of Living
Good news: Salaries have generally grown faster than the cost of basic necessities. The average Indian is better off today than in 1990.
Bad news: Asset prices (property, gold) have grown even faster, making wealth accumulation harder for new entrants.
Key Inflation Milestones
- 1970s: 7-10% annual inflation, oil shocks caused spikes
- 1980s: High inflation (9-11%), government deficits
- 1991: Crisis year - 13%+ inflation triggered reforms
- 2000s: Moderated to 4-6% post-reforms
- 2010s: Volatile - touched 12% in 2013, then stabilized
- 2020s: COVID disruption, then stabilization at 5-6%