What is the present value of $100 in today’s dollars in three years, if you assume inflation at a 3.5% rate and that the annual average after-tax rate investment is 9% (assuming a yearly compound rate)?
There are two ways of computing the answer.
The One-Step Inflation-Adjusted Method:
- n = 3
- i = 1.09 / 1.035 – 1 x 100 or 5.314
- FV = $100
- PV = ($85.61) solution
The Two-Step Method:
First, determine the future value using the inflation rate:
- n = 3
- i = 3.5
- PV = ($100)
- FV = $110.87
Next, using the 9% nominal rate, determine how much money you need today to obtain $110.87 in three years:
- n = 3
- i = 9
- FV = $110.87
- PV =($85.61)
As you can see from both methods outlined above, $85.61 is the value needed today.