U.S. inflation · 1919–1922
$100 in 1919 has the same buying power as
$97.11
in 1922
| Cumulative price change | -2.9% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | -0.97% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $97.11 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | -$2.89 |
| CPI in 1919 | 17.3 |
| CPI in 1922 | 16.8 |
| Inflation in 1919 | 14.57% |
| Inflation in 1922 | -6.15% |
| $100 in 1919 → 1922 | $97.11 |
| $100 in 1922 → 1919 | $103 |
Between 1919 and 1922, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.3 to 16.8. Cumulatively, prices declined 2.9%, which works out to an average of -0.97% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1919 bought what $1.03 buys in 1922.
| Amount in 1919 | Value in 1922 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.97 |
| $5.00 | $4.86 |
| $10.00 | $9.71 |
| $20.00 | $19.42 |
| $50.00 | $48.55 |
| $100 | $97.11 |
| $500 | $486 |
| $1,000 | $971 |
| $5,000 | $4,855 |
| $10,000 | $9,711 |
| $100,000 | $97,110 |
| $1,000,000 | $971,098 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1919 spending costs in 1922, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1919 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | -0.97% | $97.11 |
| Food | -7.13% | $80.11 |
| Apparel | -9.31% | $74.59 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1919: 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 1919 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1919 | 17.3 | 14.6% | $100 |
| 1920 | 20 | 15.6% | $116 |
| 1921 | 17.9 | -10.5% | $103 |
| 1922 | 16.8 | -6.1% | $97.11 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1919 to 1922: $100 is worth $97.11 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1919-to-1922/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1919 to 1922. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1919-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.