U.S. inflation · 1926–1933
$100 in 1926 has the same buying power as
$73.45
in 1933
| Cumulative price change | -26.6% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | -4.31% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $73.45 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | -$26.55 |
| CPI in 1926 | 17.7 |
| CPI in 1933 | 13 |
| Inflation in 1926 | 1.14% |
| Inflation in 1933 | -5.11% |
| $100 in 1926 → 1933 | $73.45 |
| $100 in 1933 → 1926 | $136 |
Between 1926 and 1933, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.7 to 13. Cumulatively, prices declined 26.6%, which works out to an average of -4.31% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1926 bought what $1.36 buys in 1933.
| Amount in 1926 | Value in 1933 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.73 |
| $5.00 | $3.67 |
| $10.00 | $7.34 |
| $20.00 | $14.69 |
| $50.00 | $36.72 |
| $100 | $73.45 |
| $500 | $367 |
| $1,000 | $734 |
| $5,000 | $3,672 |
| $10,000 | $7,345 |
| $100,000 | $73,446 |
| $1,000,000 | $734,463 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1926 spending costs in 1933, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1926 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | -4.31% | $73.45 |
| Apparel | -4.47% | $72.59 |
| Food | -6.78% | $61.18 |
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 |
| 1931 | 15.2 | -9.0% | $85.88 |
| 1932 | 13.7 | -9.9% | $77.40 |
| 1933 | 13 | -5.1% | $73.45 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1926 to 1933: $100 is worth $73.45 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1926-to-1933/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1926 to 1933. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1926-to-1933/
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.