U.S. inflation · 1916–1956
$100 in 1916 has the same buying power as
$250
in 1956
| Cumulative price change | 149.5% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.31% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $250 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $150 |
| CPI in 1916 | 10.9 |
| CPI in 1956 | 27.2 |
| Inflation in 1916 | 7.92% |
| Inflation in 1956 | 1.49% |
| $100 in 1916 → 1956 | $250 |
| $100 in 1956 → 1916 | $40.07 |
Between 1916 and 1956, the Consumer Price Index went from 10.9 to 27.2. Cumulatively, prices increased 149.5%, which works out to an average of 2.31% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1916 bought what $0.40 buys in 1956.
| Amount in 1916 | Value in 1956 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.50 |
| $5.00 | $12.48 |
| $10.00 | $24.95 |
| $20.00 | $49.91 |
| $50.00 | $125 |
| $100 | $250 |
| $500 | $1,248 |
| $1,000 | $2,495 |
| $5,000 | $12,477 |
| $10,000 | $24,954 |
| $100,000 | $249,541 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,495,413 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1916 spending costs in 1956, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1916 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.31% | $250 |
| Apparel | 2.42% | $260 |
| Food | 2.29% | $248 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1916: 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 1916 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1916 | 10.9 | 7.9% | $100 |
| 1918 | 15.1 | 18.0% | $139 |
| 1920 | 20 | 15.6% | $183 |
| 1922 | 16.8 | -6.1% | $154 |
| 1924 | 17.1 | 0.0% | $157 |
| 1926 | 17.7 | 1.1% | $162 |
| 1928 | 17.1 | -1.7% | $157 |
| 1930 | 16.7 | -2.3% | $153 |
| 1932 | 13.7 | -9.9% | $126 |
| 1934 | 13.4 | 3.1% | $123 |
| 1936 | 13.9 | 1.5% | $128 |
| 1938 | 14.1 | -2.1% | $129 |
| 1940 | 14 | 0.7% | $128 |
| 1942 | 16.3 | 10.9% | $150 |
| 1944 | 17.6 | 1.7% | $161 |
| 1946 | 19.5 | 8.3% | $179 |
| 1948 | 24.1 | 8.1% | $221 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | 1.3% | $221 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $243 |
| 1954 | 26.9 | 0.7% | $247 |
| 1956 | 27.2 | 1.5% | $250 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1916 to 1956: $100 is worth $250 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1916-to-1956/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1916 to 1956. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1916-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.