U.S. inflation · 1917–1989
$100 in 1917 has the same buying power as
$969
in 1989
| Cumulative price change | 868.8% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.20% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $969 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $869 |
| CPI in 1917 | 12.8 |
| CPI in 1989 | 124 |
| Inflation in 1917 | 17.43% |
| Inflation in 1989 | 4.82% |
| $100 in 1917 → 1989 | $969 |
| $100 in 1989 → 1917 | $10.32 |
Between 1917 and 1989, the Consumer Price Index went from 12.8 to 124. Cumulatively, prices increased 868.8%, which works out to an average of 3.20% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1917 bought what $0.10 buys in 1989.
| Amount in 1917 | Value in 1989 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $9.69 |
| $5.00 | $48.44 |
| $10.00 | $96.88 |
| $20.00 | $194 |
| $50.00 | $484 |
| $100 | $969 |
| $500 | $4,844 |
| $1,000 | $9,688 |
| $5,000 | $48,438 |
| $10,000 | $96,875 |
| $100,000 | $968,750 |
| $1,000,000 | $9,687,500 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1917 spending costs in 1989, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1917 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.20% | $969 |
| Food | 3.04% | $863 |
| Apparel | 2.49% | $587 |
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 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $969 |
Long periods are sampled every 5 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1917 to 1989: $100 is worth $969 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1917-to-1989/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1917 to 1989. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1917-to-1989/
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.