U.S. inflation · 1917–1986
$100 in 1917 has the same buying power as
$856
in 1986
| Cumulative price change | 756.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.16% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $856 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $756 |
| CPI in 1917 | 12.8 |
| CPI in 1986 | 109.6 |
| Inflation in 1917 | 17.43% |
| Inflation in 1986 | 1.86% |
| $100 in 1917 → 1986 | $856 |
| $100 in 1986 → 1917 | $11.68 |
Between 1917 and 1986, the Consumer Price Index went from 12.8 to 109.6. Cumulatively, prices increased 756.2%, which works out to an average of 3.16% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1917 bought what $0.12 buys in 1986.
| Amount in 1917 | Value in 1986 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $8.56 |
| $5.00 | $42.81 |
| $10.00 | $85.62 |
| $20.00 | $171 |
| $50.00 | $428 |
| $100 | $856 |
| $500 | $4,281 |
| $1,000 | $8,562 |
| $5,000 | $42,812 |
| $10,000 | $85,625 |
| $100,000 | $856,250 |
| $1,000,000 | $8,562,500 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1917 spending costs in 1986, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1917 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.16% | $856 |
| Food | 2.97% | $752 |
| Apparel | 2.43% | $524 |
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 |
| 1922 | 16.8 | -6.1% | $131 |
| 1927 | 17.4 | -1.7% | $136 |
| 1932 | 13.7 | -9.9% | $107 |
| 1937 | 14.4 | 3.6% | $113 |
| 1942 | 16.3 | 10.9% | $127 |
| 1947 | 22.3 | 14.4% | $174 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $207 |
| 1957 | 28.1 | 3.3% | $220 |
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $236 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $261 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $327 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $473 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $754 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $856 |
Long periods are sampled every 5 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1917 to 1986: $100 is worth $856 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1917-to-1986/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1917 to 1986. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1917-to-1986/
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.