OK, that explains things now. But I don't think that's the best default display, especially since it is not explained anywhere. I don't recall any examples where the base inflation year is the past by default.

It's great to allow users to adjust the base year in case they want to, e.g., for purposes of inform how past past dollars relate to today's circumstances (e.g. Neil Cavuto expressing how he worked for $2 an hour when he was younger and loved it and so can we), but 1976 being the base year is not very productive, it's a floating reference that loses relevance as a default.