Are Pokémon Cards Beating CDs After Inflation?
If you have been holding onto your old Pokémon cards, you might wonder how they stack up as an investment against something safe like certificates of deposit, or CDs. CDs are bank accounts that pay fixed interest, often seen as low-risk ways to grow money. But after adjusting for inflation, which eats away at your purchasing power, do Pokémon cards come out ahead? Let’s break it down in simple terms for collectors like you who track prices on sites like ours.
First, think about CDs. Right now, with interest rates around 4% to 5% for a one-year CD, you lock in that return. But inflation has hovered above 2% lately, and experts peg it closer to 2.5% long-term.[1] That means your real gain, after inflation, might be just 1.5% to 2.5%. Over five or ten years, that adds up slowly, especially if rates drop as the economy cools.
Pokémon cards tell a different story. Rare cards from early sets like Base Set or Neo Genesis have shown strong price growth. For example, a near-mint Charizard from the original set bought for $200 in 2010 might fetch $5,000 today, a 25x return. Even average cards in popular sets like Scarlet and Violet era boosters have doubled in value over two years as demand surges. The Pokémon franchise pulls in billions yearly, with $11 billion in licensing alone last year, fueling collector hype.[3] Games like Scarlet and Violet sold over 26 million copies by late 2024, keeping the buzz alive and pushing card prices higher.[2]
To compare apples to apples, look at real returns after inflation. From 2020 to 2025, U.S. inflation totaled about 25%. A solid CD portfolio might have returned 15% to 20% nominally, netting maybe 0% real growth in tough years. Pokémon cards? Top-tier ones like holos or first editions beat that easily, with 50% to 300% nominal gains in the same period, or 20% to 200% after inflation. Bulk lots and mid-tier cards often hit 10% to 30% annual real returns, outpacing CDs for patient holders.
Why the edge? Pokémon cards ride waves of nostalgia, new releases, and events like the World Championships, where thousands gather to trade and compete.[3] Supply stays fixed for vintage cards, while demand grows with new fans. CDs, by contrast, offer no upside surprise; they just chug along predictably.
Of course, cards carry risks. Prices can dip with market slumps or oversupply from reprints. Not every card wins big, so grading matters, and liquidity is lower than cashing a CD. Still, for those tracking prices here, data shows many Pokémon investments have crushed inflation-adjusted CD returns over the past decade.
Check current listings on PokemonPricing.com to see live values for your collection. Vintage holos shine brightest, but even recent chase cards hold promise if the franchise keeps thriving.
