U.S. inflation · 1917–1922
$100 in 1917 has the same buying power as
$131
in 1922
| Cumulative price change | 31.3% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 5.59% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $131 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $31.25 |
| CPI in 1917 | 12.8 |
| CPI in 1922 | 16.8 |
| Inflation in 1917 | 17.43% |
| Inflation in 1922 | -6.15% |
| $100 in 1917 → 1922 | $131 |
| $100 in 1922 → 1917 | $76.19 |
Between 1917 and 1922, the Consumer Price Index went from 12.8 to 16.8. Cumulatively, prices increased 31.3%, which works out to an average of 5.59% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1917 bought what $0.76 buys in 1922.
| Amount in 1917 | Value in 1922 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.31 |
| $5.00 | $6.56 |
| $10.00 | $13.13 |
| $20.00 | $26.25 |
| $50.00 | $65.63 |
| $100 | $131 |
| $500 | $656 |
| $1,000 | $1,313 |
| $5,000 | $6,563 |
| $10,000 | $13,125 |
| $100,000 | $131,250 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,312,500 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1917 spending costs in 1922, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1917 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 5.59% | $131 |
| Apparel | 5.97% | $134 |
| Food | 0.55% | $103 |
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 |
| 1920 | 20 | 15.6% | $156 |
| 1921 | 17.9 | -10.5% | $140 |
| 1922 | 16.8 | -6.1% | $131 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1917 to 1922: $100 is worth $131 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1917-to-1922/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1917 to 1922. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1917-to-1922/
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.