U.S. inflation · 1921–1934
$100 in 1921 has the same buying power as
$74.86
in 1934
| Cumulative price change | -25.1% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | -2.20% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $74.86 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | -$25.14 |
| CPI in 1921 | 17.9 |
| CPI in 1934 | 13.4 |
| Inflation in 1921 | -10.50% |
| Inflation in 1934 | 3.08% |
| $100 in 1921 → 1934 | $74.86 |
| $100 in 1934 → 1921 | $134 |
Between 1921 and 1934, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.9 to 13.4. Cumulatively, prices declined 25.1%, which works out to an average of -2.20% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1921 bought what $1.34 buys in 1934.
| Amount in 1921 | Value in 1934 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.75 |
| $5.00 | $3.74 |
| $10.00 | $7.49 |
| $20.00 | $14.97 |
| $50.00 | $37.43 |
| $100 | $74.86 |
| $500 | $374 |
| $1,000 | $749 |
| $5,000 | $3,743 |
| $10,000 | $7,486 |
| $100,000 | $74,860 |
| $1,000,000 | $748,603 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1921 spending costs in 1934, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1921 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | -2.20% | $74.86 |
| Food | -2.40% | $72.96 |
| Apparel | -3.60% | $62.05 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1921: 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 1921 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1921 | 17.9 | -10.5% | $100 |
| 1922 | 16.8 | -6.1% | $93.85 |
| 1923 | 17.1 | 1.8% | $95.53 |
| 1924 | 17.1 | 0.0% | $95.53 |
| 1925 | 17.5 | 2.3% | $97.77 |
| 1926 | 17.7 | 1.1% | $98.88 |
| 1927 | 17.4 | -1.7% | $97.21 |
| 1928 | 17.1 | -1.7% | $95.53 |
| 1929 | 17.1 | 0.0% | $95.53 |
| 1930 | 16.7 | -2.3% | $93.30 |
| 1931 | 15.2 | -9.0% | $84.92 |
| 1932 | 13.7 | -9.9% | $76.54 |
| 1933 | 13 | -5.1% | $72.63 |
| 1934 | 13.4 | 3.1% | $74.86 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1921 to 1934: $100 is worth $74.86 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1921-to-1934/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1921 to 1934. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1921-to-1934/
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.