U.S. inflation · 1915–1930
$100 in 1915 has the same buying power as
$165
in 1930
| Cumulative price change | 65.3% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.41% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $165 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $65.35 |
| CPI in 1915 | 10.1 |
| CPI in 1930 | 16.7 |
| Inflation in 1915 | 1.00% |
| Inflation in 1930 | -2.34% |
| $100 in 1915 → 1930 | $165 |
| $100 in 1930 → 1915 | $60.48 |
Between 1915 and 1930, the Consumer Price Index went from 10.1 to 16.7. Cumulatively, prices increased 65.3%, which works out to an average of 3.41% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1915 bought what $0.60 buys in 1930.
| Amount in 1915 | Value in 1930 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.65 |
| $5.00 | $8.27 |
| $10.00 | $16.53 |
| $20.00 | $33.07 |
| $50.00 | $82.67 |
| $100 | $165 |
| $500 | $827 |
| $1,000 | $1,653 |
| $5,000 | $8,267 |
| $10,000 | $16,535 |
| $100,000 | $165,347 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,653,465 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1915 spending costs in 1930, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1915 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.41% | $165 |
| Apparel | 3.10% | $158 |
| Food | 3.01% | $156 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1915: 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 1915 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1915 | 10.1 | 1.0% | $100 |
| 1916 | 10.9 | 7.9% | $108 |
| 1917 | 12.8 | 17.4% | $127 |
| 1918 | 15.1 | 18.0% | $150 |
| 1919 | 17.3 | 14.6% | $171 |
| 1920 | 20 | 15.6% | $198 |
| 1921 | 17.9 | -10.5% | $177 |
| 1922 | 16.8 | -6.1% | $166 |
| 1923 | 17.1 | 1.8% | $169 |
| 1924 | 17.1 | 0.0% | $169 |
| 1925 | 17.5 | 2.3% | $173 |
| 1926 | 17.7 | 1.1% | $175 |
| 1927 | 17.4 | -1.7% | $172 |
| 1928 | 17.1 | -1.7% | $169 |
| 1929 | 17.1 | 0.0% | $169 |
| 1930 | 16.7 | -2.3% | $165 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1915 to 1930: $100 is worth $165 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1915-to-1930/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1915 to 1930. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1915-to-1930/
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.