U.S. inflation · 1928–1933
$100 in 1928 has the same buying power as
$76.02
in 1933
| Cumulative price change | -24.0% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | -5.33% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $76.02 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | -$23.98 |
| CPI in 1928 | 17.1 |
| CPI in 1933 | 13 |
| Inflation in 1928 | -1.72% |
| Inflation in 1933 | -5.11% |
| $100 in 1928 → 1933 | $76.02 |
| $100 in 1933 → 1928 | $132 |
Between 1928 and 1933, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.1 to 13. Cumulatively, prices declined 24.0%, which works out to an average of -5.33% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1928 bought what $1.32 buys in 1933.
| Amount in 1928 | Value in 1933 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.76 |
| $5.00 | $3.80 |
| $10.00 | $7.60 |
| $20.00 | $15.20 |
| $50.00 | $38.01 |
| $100 | $76.02 |
| $500 | $380 |
| $1,000 | $760 |
| $5,000 | $3,801 |
| $10,000 | $7,602 |
| $100,000 | $76,023 |
| $1,000,000 | $760,234 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1928 spending costs in 1933, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1928 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | -5.33% | $76.02 |
| Apparel | -5.54% | $75.20 |
| Food | -8.60% | $63.80 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1928: 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 1928 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1928 | 17.1 | -1.7% | $100 |
| 1929 | 17.1 | 0.0% | $100 |
| 1930 | 16.7 | -2.3% | $97.66 |
| 1931 | 15.2 | -9.0% | $88.89 |
| 1932 | 13.7 | -9.9% | $80.12 |
| 1933 | 13 | -5.1% | $76.02 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1928 to 1933: $100 is worth $76.02 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1928-to-1933/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1928 to 1933. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1928-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.