U.S. inflation · 1926–1996
$100 in 1926 has the same buying power as
$886
in 1996
| Cumulative price change | 786.4% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.17% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $886 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $786 |
| CPI in 1926 | 17.7 |
| CPI in 1996 | 156.9 |
| Inflation in 1926 | 1.14% |
| Inflation in 1996 | 2.95% |
| $100 in 1926 → 1996 | $886 |
| $100 in 1996 → 1926 | $11.28 |
Between 1926 and 1996, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.7 to 156.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 786.4%, which works out to an average of 3.17% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1926 bought what $0.11 buys in 1996.
| Amount in 1926 | Value in 1996 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $8.86 |
| $5.00 | $44.32 |
| $10.00 | $88.64 |
| $20.00 | $177 |
| $50.00 | $443 |
| $100 | $886 |
| $500 | $4,432 |
| $1,000 | $8,864 |
| $5,000 | $44,322 |
| $10,000 | $88,644 |
| $100,000 | $886,441 |
| $1,000,000 | $8,864,407 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1926 spending costs in 1996, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1926 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.17% | $886 |
| Food | 3.19% | $902 |
| Apparel | 2.35% | $508 |
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 |
| 1931 | 15.2 | -9.0% | $85.88 |
| 1936 | 13.9 | 1.5% | $78.53 |
| 1941 | 14.7 | 5.0% | $83.05 |
| 1946 | 19.5 | 8.3% | $110 |
| 1951 | 26 | 7.9% | $147 |
| 1956 | 27.2 | 1.5% | $154 |
| 1961 | 29.9 | 1.0% | $169 |
| 1966 | 32.4 | 2.9% | $183 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $229 |
| 1976 | 56.9 | 5.8% | $321 |
| 1981 | 90.9 | 10.3% | $514 |
| 1986 | 109.6 | 1.9% | $619 |
| 1991 | 136.2 | 4.2% | $769 |
| 1996 | 156.9 | 3.0% | $886 |
Long periods are sampled every 5 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1926 to 1996: $100 is worth $886 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1926-to-1996/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1926 to 1996. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1926-to-1996/
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.