U.S. inflation · 1928–1942
$100 in 1928 has the same buying power as
$95.32
in 1942
| Cumulative price change | -4.7% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | -0.34% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $95.32 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | -$4.68 |
| CPI in 1928 | 17.1 |
| CPI in 1942 | 16.3 |
| Inflation in 1928 | -1.72% |
| Inflation in 1942 | 10.88% |
| $100 in 1928 → 1942 | $95.32 |
| $100 in 1942 → 1928 | $105 |
Between 1928 and 1942, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.1 to 16.3. Cumulatively, prices declined 4.7%, which works out to an average of -0.34% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1928 bought what $1.05 buys in 1942.
| Amount in 1928 | Value in 1942 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.95 |
| $5.00 | $4.77 |
| $10.00 | $9.53 |
| $20.00 | $19.06 |
| $50.00 | $47.66 |
| $100 | $95.32 |
| $500 | $477 |
| $1,000 | $953 |
| $5,000 | $4,766 |
| $10,000 | $9,532 |
| $100,000 | $95,322 |
| $1,000,000 | $953,216 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1928 spending costs in 1942, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1928 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | -0.34% | $95.32 |
| Apparel | 0.47% | $107 |
| Food | -0.40% | $94.48 |
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 |
| 1935 | 13.7 | 2.2% | $80.12 |
| 1936 | 13.9 | 1.5% | $81.29 |
| 1937 | 14.4 | 3.6% | $84.21 |
| 1938 | 14.1 | -2.1% | $82.46 |
| 1939 | 13.9 | -1.4% | $81.29 |
| 1940 | 14 | 0.7% | $81.87 |
| 1941 | 14.7 | 5.0% | $85.96 |
| 1942 | 16.3 | 10.9% | $95.32 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1928 to 1942: $100 is worth $95.32 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1928-to-1942/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1928 to 1942. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1928-to-1942/
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.