The "real" amount is the value adjusted for the effects of inflation.
Source: Schwab Center for Financial Research. The "nominal" amount is the stated value. The "real" amount is the value adjusted for the effects of inflation. Inflation is represented by the change in the Consumer Price Index for AII Urban Consumers (CPI-U). From 2004 to 2023, inflation averaged 2.6%. But during some periods in the past, the average was much higher: It averaged 6.2% from 1970-1989. Past performance is no indication of future results.