The Fact
Using CPI-based purchasing-power calculations in the Broadside working research, $72,000 in 2018 is equivalent to about $95,700 in 2026. That is roughly $23,700 more income required to maintain the same CPI-measured purchasing power, a cumulative increase of about 33%.
What This Means
A paycheck can rise in nominal dollars while buying less than it did in an earlier year. Inflation-adjusted purchasing-power comparisons help separate the number printed on a paycheck from what that paycheck can actually buy.
Sources
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. CPI Inflation Calculator (CPI-U, U.S. city average). Accessed October 2, 2026. https://www.bls.gov/data/inflation_calculator.htm