U.S. inflation · 1929–1997
$100 in 1929 has the same buying power as
$939
in 1997
| Cumulative price change | 838.6% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.35% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $939 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $839 |
| CPI in 1929 | 17.1 |
| CPI in 1997 | 160.5 |
| Inflation in 1929 | 0.00% |
| Inflation in 1997 | 2.29% |
| $100 in 1929 → 1997 | $939 |
| $100 in 1997 → 1929 | $10.65 |
Between 1929 and 1997, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.1 to 160.5. Cumulatively, prices increased 838.6%, which works out to an average of 3.35% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1929 bought what $0.11 buys in 1997.
| Amount in 1929 | Value in 1997 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $9.39 |
| $5.00 | $46.93 |
| $10.00 | $93.86 |
| $20.00 | $188 |
| $50.00 | $469 |
| $100 | $939 |
| $500 | $4,693 |
| $1,000 | $9,386 |
| $5,000 | $46,930 |
| $10,000 | $93,860 |
| $100,000 | $938,596 |
| $1,000,000 | $9,385,965 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1929 spending costs in 1997, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1929 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.35% | $939 |
| Food | 3.37% | $953 |
| Apparel | 2.51% | $538 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1929: 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 1929 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1929 | 17.1 | 0.0% | $100 |
| 1934 | 13.4 | 3.1% | $78.36 |
| 1939 | 13.9 | -1.4% | $81.29 |
| 1944 | 17.6 | 1.7% | $103 |
| 1949 | 23.8 | -1.2% | $139 |
| 1954 | 26.9 | 0.7% | $157 |
| 1959 | 29.1 | 0.7% | $170 |
| 1964 | 31 | 1.3% | $181 |
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $215 |
| 1974 | 49.3 | 11.0% | $288 |
| 1979 | 72.6 | 11.3% | $425 |
| 1984 | 103.9 | 4.3% | $608 |
| 1989 | 124 | 4.8% | $725 |
| 1994 | 148.2 | 2.6% | $867 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $939 |
Long periods are sampled every 5 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1929 to 1997: $100 is worth $939 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1929-to-1997/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1929 to 1997. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1929-to-1997/
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.