GeraCash / Savings Calculator / Beating inflation
Is your savings beating inflation?
Cash can grow in pounds yet shrink in what it buys. With the Bank of England Bank Rate at 3.75% and ONS CPI inflation at 2.8%, the real return on a benchmark-rate account is about 0.95 percentage points. Enter your own rate to see your savings in today’s money.
Is my savings account beating inflation right now?
A savings account beats inflation only when its interest rate is higher than the inflation rate. The Bank of England Bank Rate is 3.75% (since 2025-12-18) and ONS CPI inflation is 2.8% (2026 MAY), so the real interest rate on a benchmark-rate account is about 0.95 percentage points — money there is gaining purchasing power. Check your own rate below.
The numbers right now
Both rates are published figures (Bank of England and ONS). The real interest rate is simply the benchmark rate minus inflation.
| Measure | Rate | As of |
|---|---|---|
| Bank of England Bank Rate (illustrative benchmark) | 3.75% | effective 2025-12-18 |
| ONS CPI inflation (annual) | 2.8% | 2026 MAY |
| Real interest rate (benchmark − inflation) | 0.95 pp | gaining purchasing power |
See your savings in today’s money
Enter your own account rate and deposit. The result shows both the future balance and its purchasing power after inflation — the gap is what inflation costs you.
What you have saved today
Added at the end of each month
How long you keep saving
After 10 years your savings could be worth about
£36,336
≈ £27,568 in today's money after 2.8% inflation
You pay in
£29,000
starting amount + all monthly deposits
Interest earned
£7,336
the growth from compounding
Compound interest before tax, assuming the rate and your monthly deposit stay the same and interest compounds monthly. Real savings rates change and may be taxed; an ISA shelters interest from tax. The Bank of England Bank Rate guides — but does not set — the rates providers offer. Not financial advice.
Frequently asked questions
- What does "beating inflation" mean?
- Your savings beat inflation when the interest you earn is more than the rate at which prices rise. If a £100 balance earns 4% but prices rise 3%, it grows to £104 but you would need £103 to buy what £100 bought a year ago — so you are about 1% better off in real terms. If interest is below inflation, the cash buys less each year even as the number grows.
- What is the real interest rate right now?
- The real interest rate is the nominal rate minus inflation. With the Bank of England Bank Rate at 3.75% and ONS CPI inflation at 2.8% (2026 MAY), the real rate on a benchmark-rate account is about 0.95 percentage points. The Bank Rate is a benchmark — your own account may pay more or less, which changes your personal real return.
- How do I work out if my account beats inflation?
- Subtract the inflation rate from your account's interest rate. If the result is positive your savings gain purchasing power; if negative they lose it. Enter your rate in the calculator and tick "Show value in today's money" — the gap between the future balance and the today's-money figure is the cost of inflation. The page pre-fills inflation at the latest ONS CPI rate of 2.8%.
- What rate do I need to beat inflation?
- To beat inflation your savings rate needs to be above the current inflation rate of 2.8% (ONS CPI, 2026 MAY) — and a bit more if interest is taxed. A cash ISA, fixed-term bond or regular-saver account often pays more than an easy-access account, so shopping around is how most savers turn a negative real return positive.
- Does GeraCash protect savings from inflation?
- No. GeraCash is pre-launch and operates a waitlist only; it is planned to launch in 2027 with a licensed payment partner. This is a free educational tool. It cannot change your account rate or inflation — it just makes the real-terms effect visible so you can compare options.
Keep more of what you save
GeraCash is building a multi-currency account designed around transparent, mid-market-based rates — so the value you save isn’t quietly eroded by hidden conversion markups. Join the waitlist for early access.
Related
- Savings & compound interest calculator — project growth with monthly deposits
- Methodology & data sources — the real interest rate identity and the BoE / ONS data
- UK inflation calculator — the value of money over time
- UK interest rate today — the Bank of England base rate and its history
Information only, not financial advice. GeraCash is pre-launch (waitlist only) and is planned to launch in 2027 with a licensed payment partner.