U.S. inflation · 1930–1934
$100 in 1930 has the same buying power as
$80.24
in 1934
| Cumulative price change | -19.8% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | -5.36% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $80.24 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | -$19.76 |
| CPI in 1930 | 16.7 |
| CPI in 1934 | 13.4 |
| Inflation in 1930 | -2.34% |
| Inflation in 1934 | 3.08% |
| $100 in 1930 → 1934 | $80.24 |
| $100 in 1934 → 1930 | $125 |
Between 1930 and 1934, the Consumer Price Index went from 16.7 to 13.4. Cumulatively, prices declined 19.8%, which works out to an average of -5.36% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1930 bought what $1.25 buys in 1934.
| Amount in 1930 | Value in 1934 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.80 |
| $5.00 | $4.01 |
| $10.00 | $8.02 |
| $20.00 | $16.05 |
| $50.00 | $40.12 |
| $100 | $80.24 |
| $500 | $401 |
| $1,000 | $802 |
| $5,000 | $4,012 |
| $10,000 | $8,024 |
| $100,000 | $80,240 |
| $1,000,000 | $802,395 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1930 spending costs in 1934, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1930 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | -5.36% | $80.24 |
| Apparel | -3.95% | $85.12 |
| Food | -7.14% | $74.36 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1930: 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 1930 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1930 | 16.7 | -2.3% | $100 |
| 1931 | 15.2 | -9.0% | $91.02 |
| 1932 | 13.7 | -9.9% | $82.04 |
| 1933 | 13 | -5.1% | $77.84 |
| 1934 | 13.4 | 3.1% | $80.24 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1930 to 1934: $100 is worth $80.24 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1930-to-1934/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1930 to 1934. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1930-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.