U.S. inflation · 1927–1956
$100 in 1927 has the same buying power as
$156
in 1956
| Cumulative price change | 56.3% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 1.55% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $156 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $56.32 |
| CPI in 1927 | 17.4 |
| CPI in 1956 | 27.2 |
| Inflation in 1927 | -1.69% |
| Inflation in 1956 | 1.49% |
| $100 in 1927 → 1956 | $156 |
| $100 in 1956 → 1927 | $63.97 |
Between 1927 and 1956, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.4 to 27.2. Cumulatively, prices increased 56.3%, which works out to an average of 1.55% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1927 bought what $0.64 buys in 1956.
| Amount in 1927 | Value in 1956 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.56 |
| $5.00 | $7.82 |
| $10.00 | $15.63 |
| $20.00 | $31.26 |
| $50.00 | $78.16 |
| $100 | $156 |
| $500 | $782 |
| $1,000 | $1,563 |
| $5,000 | $7,816 |
| $10,000 | $15,632 |
| $100,000 | $156,322 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,563,218 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1927 spending costs in 1956, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1927 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 1.55% | $156 |
| Apparel | 1.90% | $173 |
| Food | 1.86% | $171 |
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 |
| 1939 | 13.9 | -1.4% | $79.89 |
| 1940 | 14 | 0.7% | $80.46 |
| 1941 | 14.7 | 5.0% | $84.48 |
| 1942 | 16.3 | 10.9% | $93.68 |
| 1943 | 17.3 | 6.1% | $99.43 |
| 1944 | 17.6 | 1.7% | $101 |
| 1945 | 18 | 2.3% | $103 |
| 1946 | 19.5 | 8.3% | $112 |
| 1947 | 22.3 | 14.4% | $128 |
| 1948 | 24.1 | 8.1% | $139 |
| 1949 | 23.8 | -1.2% | $137 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | 1.3% | $139 |
| 1951 | 26 | 7.9% | $149 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $152 |
| 1953 | 26.7 | 0.8% | $153 |
| 1954 | 26.9 | 0.7% | $155 |
| 1955 | 26.8 | -0.4% | $154 |
| 1956 | 27.2 | 1.5% | $156 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1927 to 1956: $100 is worth $156 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1927-to-1956/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1927 to 1956. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1927-to-1956/
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.