A spreadsheet program offers the capability to create personalized tools for assessing the impact of inflation on investments or purchasing power. This can be achieved through built-in functions for calculating present and future values, incorporating factors like interest rates and periodic payments. For example, one could model the future value of a current investment given an assumed average inflation rate.
Understanding the real return on investments and the erosion of purchasing power over time is crucial for effective financial planning. A customized tool within a spreadsheet environment allows users to adjust assumptions, explore various scenarios, and gain a deeper understanding of inflation’s long-term impact. This capability has become increasingly important given the fluctuating economic landscape of recent decades.