U.S. inflation · 1928–1934
$100 in 1928 has the same buying power as
$78.36
in 1934
| Cumulative price change | -21.6% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | -3.98% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $78.36 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | -$21.64 |
| CPI in 1928 | 17.1 |
| CPI in 1934 | 13.4 |
| Inflation in 1928 | -1.72% |
| Inflation in 1934 | 3.08% |
| $100 in 1928 → 1934 | $78.36 |
| $100 in 1934 → 1928 | $128 |
Between 1928 and 1934, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.1 to 13.4. Cumulatively, prices declined 21.6%, which works out to an average of -3.98% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1928 bought what $1.28 buys in 1934.
| Amount in 1928 | Value in 1934 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.78 |
| $5.00 | $3.92 |
| $10.00 | $7.84 |
| $20.00 | $15.67 |
| $50.00 | $39.18 |
| $100 | $78.36 |
| $500 | $392 |
| $1,000 | $784 |
| $5,000 | $3,918 |
| $10,000 | $7,836 |
| $100,000 | $78,363 |
| $1,000,000 | $783,626 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1928 spending costs in 1934, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1928 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | -3.98% | $78.36 |
| Apparel | -3.17% | $82.40 |
| Food | -5.51% | $71.17 |
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 |
| 1934 | 13.4 | 3.1% | $78.36 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1928 to 1934: $100 is worth $78.36 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1928-to-1934/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1928 to 1934. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1928-to-1934/
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.