U.S. inflation · 1914–1956
$100 in 1914 has the same buying power as
$272
in 1956
| Cumulative price change | 172.0% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.41% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $272 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $172 |
| CPI in 1914 | 10 |
| CPI in 1956 | 27.2 |
| Inflation in 1914 | 1.01% |
| Inflation in 1956 | 1.49% |
| $100 in 1914 → 1956 | $272 |
| $100 in 1956 → 1914 | $36.76 |
Between 1914 and 1956, the Consumer Price Index went from 10 to 27.2. Cumulatively, prices increased 172.0%, which works out to an average of 2.41% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1914 bought what $0.37 buys in 1956.
| Amount in 1914 | Value in 1956 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.72 |
| $5.00 | $13.60 |
| $10.00 | $27.20 |
| $20.00 | $54.40 |
| $50.00 | $136 |
| $100 | $272 |
| $500 | $1,360 |
| $1,000 | $2,720 |
| $5,000 | $13,600 |
| $10,000 | $27,200 |
| $100,000 | $272,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,720,000 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1914 spending costs in 1956, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1914 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.41% | $272 |
| Apparel | 2.58% | $291 |
| Food | 2.43% | $275 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1914: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), medical care (1935–), transportation (1935–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1914 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1914 | 10 | 1.0% | $100 |
| 1916 | 10.9 | 7.9% | $109 |
| 1918 | 15.1 | 18.0% | $151 |
| 1920 | 20 | 15.6% | $200 |
| 1922 | 16.8 | -6.1% | $168 |
| 1924 | 17.1 | 0.0% | $171 |
| 1926 | 17.7 | 1.1% | $177 |
| 1928 | 17.1 | -1.7% | $171 |
| 1930 | 16.7 | -2.3% | $167 |
| 1932 | 13.7 | -9.9% | $137 |
| 1934 | 13.4 | 3.1% | $134 |
| 1936 | 13.9 | 1.5% | $139 |
| 1938 | 14.1 | -2.1% | $141 |
| 1940 | 14 | 0.7% | $140 |
| 1942 | 16.3 | 10.9% | $163 |
| 1944 | 17.6 | 1.7% | $176 |
| 1946 | 19.5 | 8.3% | $195 |
| 1948 | 24.1 | 8.1% | $241 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | 1.3% | $241 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $265 |
| 1954 | 26.9 | 0.7% | $269 |
| 1956 | 27.2 | 1.5% | $272 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1914 to 1956: $100 is worth $272 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1914-to-1956/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1914 to 1956. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1914-to-1956/
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U annual averages (series CUUR0000SA0; category indexes listed on the data sources page). See how these numbers are calculated.