U.S. inflation · 1926–1937
$100 in 1926 has the same buying power as
$81.36
in 1937
| Cumulative price change | -18.6% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | -1.86% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $81.36 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | -$18.64 |
| CPI in 1926 | 17.7 |
| CPI in 1937 | 14.4 |
| Inflation in 1926 | 1.14% |
| Inflation in 1937 | 3.60% |
| $100 in 1926 → 1937 | $81.36 |
| $100 in 1937 → 1926 | $123 |
Between 1926 and 1937, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.7 to 14.4. Cumulatively, prices declined 18.6%, which works out to an average of -1.86% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1926 bought what $1.23 buys in 1937.
| Amount in 1926 | Value in 1937 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.81 |
| $5.00 | $4.07 |
| $10.00 | $8.14 |
| $20.00 | $16.27 |
| $50.00 | $40.68 |
| $100 | $81.36 |
| $500 | $407 |
| $1,000 | $814 |
| $5,000 | $4,068 |
| $10,000 | $8,136 |
| $100,000 | $81,356 |
| $1,000,000 | $813,559 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1926 spending costs in 1937, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1926 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | -1.86% | $81.36 |
| Apparel | -1.47% | $84.94 |
| Food | -2.34% | $77.06 |
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 |
| 1934 | 13.4 | 3.1% | $75.71 |
| 1935 | 13.7 | 2.2% | $77.40 |
| 1936 | 13.9 | 1.5% | $78.53 |
| 1937 | 14.4 | 3.6% | $81.36 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1926 to 1937: $100 is worth $81.36 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1926-to-1937/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1926 to 1937. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1926-to-1937/
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.