U.S. inflation · 1926–1930
$100 in 1926 has the same buying power as
$94.35
in 1930
| Cumulative price change | -5.6% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | -1.44% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $94.35 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | -$5.65 |
| CPI in 1926 | 17.7 |
| CPI in 1930 | 16.7 |
| Inflation in 1926 | 1.14% |
| Inflation in 1930 | -2.34% |
| $100 in 1926 → 1930 | $94.35 |
| $100 in 1930 → 1926 | $106 |
Between 1926 and 1930, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.7 to 16.7. Cumulatively, prices declined 5.6%, which works out to an average of -1.44% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1926 bought what $1.06 buys in 1930.
| Amount in 1926 | Value in 1930 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.94 |
| $5.00 | $4.72 |
| $10.00 | $9.44 |
| $20.00 | $18.87 |
| $50.00 | $47.18 |
| $100 | $94.35 |
| $500 | $472 |
| $1,000 | $944 |
| $5,000 | $4,718 |
| $10,000 | $9,435 |
| $100,000 | $94,350 |
| $1,000,000 | $943,503 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1926 spending costs in 1930, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1926 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | -1.44% | $94.35 |
| Apparel | -1.68% | $93.44 |
| Food | -2.13% | $91.76 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1926: 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 1926 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1926 | 17.7 | 1.1% | $100 |
| 1927 | 17.4 | -1.7% | $98.31 |
| 1928 | 17.1 | -1.7% | $96.61 |
| 1929 | 17.1 | 0.0% | $96.61 |
| 1930 | 16.7 | -2.3% | $94.35 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1926 to 1930: $100 is worth $94.35 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1926-to-1930/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1926 to 1930. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1926-to-1930/
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.