U.S. inflation · 1919–1929
$100 in 1919 has the same buying power as
$98.84
in 1929
| Cumulative price change | -1.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | -0.12% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $98.84 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | -$1.16 |
| CPI in 1919 | 17.3 |
| CPI in 1929 | 17.1 |
| Inflation in 1919 | 14.57% |
| Inflation in 1929 | 0.00% |
| $100 in 1919 → 1929 | $98.84 |
| $100 in 1929 → 1919 | $101 |
Between 1919 and 1929, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.3 to 17.1. Cumulatively, prices declined 1.2%, which works out to an average of -0.12% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1919 bought what $1.01 buys in 1929.
| Amount in 1919 | Value in 1929 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.99 |
| $5.00 | $4.94 |
| $10.00 | $9.88 |
| $20.00 | $19.77 |
| $50.00 | $49.42 |
| $100 | $98.84 |
| $500 | $494 |
| $1,000 | $988 |
| $5,000 | $4,942 |
| $10,000 | $9,884 |
| $100,000 | $98,844 |
| $1,000,000 | $988,439 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1919 spending costs in 1929, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1919 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | -0.12% | $98.84 |
| Food | -1.19% | $88.71 |
| Apparel | -3.75% | $68.23 |
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 |
| 1923 | 17.1 | 1.8% | $98.84 |
| 1924 | 17.1 | 0.0% | $98.84 |
| 1925 | 17.5 | 2.3% | $101 |
| 1926 | 17.7 | 1.1% | $102 |
| 1927 | 17.4 | -1.7% | $101 |
| 1928 | 17.1 | -1.7% | $98.84 |
| 1929 | 17.1 | 0.0% | $98.84 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1919 to 1929: $100 is worth $98.84 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1919-to-1929/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1919 to 1929. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1919-to-1929/
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.