U.S. inflation · 1917–1988
$100 in 1917 has the same buying power as
$924
in 1988
| Cumulative price change | 824.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.18% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $924 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $824 |
| CPI in 1917 | 12.8 |
| CPI in 1988 | 118.3 |
| Inflation in 1917 | 17.43% |
| Inflation in 1988 | 4.14% |
| $100 in 1917 → 1988 | $924 |
| $100 in 1988 → 1917 | $10.82 |
Between 1917 and 1988, the Consumer Price Index went from 12.8 to 118.3. Cumulatively, prices increased 824.2%, which works out to an average of 3.18% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1917 bought what $0.11 buys in 1988.
| Amount in 1917 | Value in 1988 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $9.24 |
| $5.00 | $46.21 |
| $10.00 | $92.42 |
| $20.00 | $185 |
| $50.00 | $462 |
| $100 | $924 |
| $500 | $4,621 |
| $1,000 | $9,242 |
| $5,000 | $46,211 |
| $10,000 | $92,422 |
| $100,000 | $924,219 |
| $1,000,000 | $9,242,188 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1917 spending costs in 1988, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1917 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.18% | $924 |
| Food | 3.00% | $815 |
| Apparel | 2.48% | $571 |
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 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $887 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $924 |
Long periods are sampled every 5 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1917 to 1988: $100 is worth $924 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1917-to-1988/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1917 to 1988. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1917-to-1988/
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.