U.S. inflation · 1927–1938
$100 in 1927 has the same buying power as
$81.03
in 1938
| Cumulative price change | -19.0% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | -1.89% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $81.03 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | -$18.97 |
| CPI in 1927 | 17.4 |
| CPI in 1938 | 14.1 |
| Inflation in 1927 | -1.69% |
| Inflation in 1938 | -2.08% |
| $100 in 1927 → 1938 | $81.03 |
| $100 in 1938 → 1927 | $123 |
Between 1927 and 1938, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.4 to 14.1. Cumulatively, prices declined 19.0%, which works out to an average of -1.89% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1927 bought what $1.23 buys in 1938.
| Amount in 1927 | Value in 1938 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.81 |
| $5.00 | $4.05 |
| $10.00 | $8.10 |
| $20.00 | $16.21 |
| $50.00 | $40.52 |
| $100 | $81.03 |
| $500 | $405 |
| $1,000 | $810 |
| $5,000 | $4,052 |
| $10,000 | $8,103 |
| $100,000 | $81,034 |
| $1,000,000 | $810,345 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1927 spending costs in 1938, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1927 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | -1.89% | $81.03 |
| Apparel | -1.30% | $86.56 |
| Food | -2.73% | $73.78 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1927: 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 1927 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1927 | 17.4 | -1.7% | $100 |
| 1928 | 17.1 | -1.7% | $98.28 |
| 1929 | 17.1 | 0.0% | $98.28 |
| 1930 | 16.7 | -2.3% | $95.98 |
| 1931 | 15.2 | -9.0% | $87.36 |
| 1932 | 13.7 | -9.9% | $78.74 |
| 1933 | 13 | -5.1% | $74.71 |
| 1934 | 13.4 | 3.1% | $77.01 |
| 1935 | 13.7 | 2.2% | $78.74 |
| 1936 | 13.9 | 1.5% | $79.89 |
| 1937 | 14.4 | 3.6% | $82.76 |
| 1938 | 14.1 | -2.1% | $81.03 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1927 to 1938: $100 is worth $81.03 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1927-to-1938/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1927 to 1938. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1927-to-1938/
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.