U.S. inflation · 1917–1919
$100 in 1917 has the same buying power as
$135
in 1919
| Cumulative price change | 35.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 16.26% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $135 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $35.16 |
| CPI in 1917 | 12.8 |
| CPI in 1919 | 17.3 |
| Inflation in 1917 | 17.43% |
| Inflation in 1919 | 14.57% |
| $100 in 1917 → 1919 | $135 |
| $100 in 1919 → 1917 | $73.99 |
Between 1917 and 1919, the Consumer Price Index went from 12.8 to 17.3. Cumulatively, prices increased 35.2%, which works out to an average of 16.26% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1917 bought what $0.74 buys in 1919.
| Amount in 1917 | Value in 1919 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.35 |
| $5.00 | $6.76 |
| $10.00 | $13.52 |
| $20.00 | $27.03 |
| $50.00 | $67.58 |
| $100 | $135 |
| $500 | $676 |
| $1,000 | $1,352 |
| $5,000 | $6,758 |
| $10,000 | $13,516 |
| $100,000 | $135,156 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,351,563 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1917 spending costs in 1919, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1917 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 16.26% | $135 |
| Apparel | 33.87% | $179 |
| Food | 13.26% | $128 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1917: 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 1917 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1917 | 12.8 | 17.4% | $100 |
| 1918 | 15.1 | 18.0% | $118 |
| 1919 | 17.3 | 14.6% | $135 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1917 to 1919: $100 is worth $135 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1917-to-1919/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1917 to 1919. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1917-to-1919/
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.