^ "Ran the Ruger 10/22 price through a inflation calc
1973 $73.50 = 2021 $377.87
Current price on Buds for what appears to be the same model $291.25"
For comparing a 3% inflation rate with a 3.5% inflation rate, the method is simple:
48 years (periods)
3% = 1.03^48 = 4.132...
X 73.50 = $303.72
3.5% =1.035^48 = 5.214...
x 73.50 = $383.20
Your inflation calculator seems to be applying too high an inflation rate for this particular sample. In general, I've noticed this before with on-line calculators.
Whoever does it for Wikipedia seems to like the 3.5% rate.
I usually do best by assuming a 3% constant rate for almost any number of periods (years). Of course this doesn't take into account shorter periods of high or low inflation embedded in the reality, but still seems to reflect the long-term average pretty well.
<editorial note> We'll see what happens after the government is done printing all that valueless money to "pay" for our outrageous spending.</editorial note>
<back to topic>
Terry, 230RN