How to ask for an inflation-adjusted raise (script + the number to cite)

An inflation-adjusted raise isn't a 'cost of living' favor — it's the floor that keeps your real pay flat. Anything below it is a pay cut in everything but the number on the check. Here's how to make that case.

Step 1 — Get your number

Run your last raise (or your start date) through the calculator. You want one figure: the cumulative inflation between then and now. That is your break-even percentage.

Step 2 — Frame it as 'keeping pace,' not 'falling behind'

"Since my last adjustment in [month/year], CPI is up [X]%. I'd like to bring my base to [break-even number] so my compensation holds its purchasing power, and then talk about a merit increase on top of that."

Separating the inflation adjustment from the merit raise is the key move. It reframes the conversation from 'I want more' to 'let's not let my pay quietly shrink,' which is much harder to refuse.

Step 3 — Bring the source

• Cite the CPI-U series and the two months you compared — managers trust an official source over a vibe.
• If you live in a high-cost metro, bring your metro's CPI page too; the local number is often higher.
• Have the break-even dollar figure ready, not just a percentage — concrete asks land better.

Informational only — this is not negotiation or financial advice, just a way to frame public data.

Open the raise calculator to check your own numbers.

Updated July 2026