U.S. inflation · 1917–1926
$100 in 1917 has the same buying power as
$138
in 1926
| Cumulative price change | 38.3% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.67% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $138 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $38.28 |
| CPI in 1917 | 12.8 |
| CPI in 1926 | 17.7 |
| Inflation in 1917 | 17.43% |
| Inflation in 1926 | 1.14% |
| $100 in 1917 → 1926 | $138 |
| $100 in 1926 → 1917 | $72.32 |
Between 1917 and 1926, the Consumer Price Index went from 12.8 to 17.7. Cumulatively, prices increased 38.3%, which works out to an average of 3.67% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1917 bought what $0.72 buys in 1926.
| Amount in 1917 | Value in 1926 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.38 |
| $5.00 | $6.91 |
| $10.00 | $13.83 |
| $20.00 | $27.66 |
| $50.00 | $69.14 |
| $100 | $138 |
| $500 | $691 |
| $1,000 | $1,383 |
| $5,000 | $6,914 |
| $10,000 | $13,828 |
| $100,000 | $138,281 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,382,812 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1917 spending costs in 1926, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1917 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.67% | $138 |
| Apparel | 2.80% | $128 |
| Food | 1.78% | $117 |
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 |
| 1923 | 17.1 | 1.8% | $134 |
| 1924 | 17.1 | 0.0% | $134 |
| 1925 | 17.5 | 2.3% | $137 |
| 1926 | 17.7 | 1.1% | $138 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1917 to 1926: $100 is worth $138 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1917-to-1926/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1917 to 1926. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1917-to-1926/
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.