U.S. inflation · 1931–1939
$100 in 1931 has the same buying power as
$91.45
in 1939
| Cumulative price change | -8.6% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | -1.11% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $91.45 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | -$8.55 |
| CPI in 1931 | 15.2 |
| CPI in 1939 | 13.9 |
| Inflation in 1931 | -8.98% |
| Inflation in 1939 | -1.42% |
| $100 in 1931 → 1939 | $91.45 |
| $100 in 1939 → 1931 | $109 |
Between 1931 and 1939, the Consumer Price Index went from 15.2 to 13.9. Cumulatively, prices declined 8.6%, which works out to an average of -1.11% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1931 bought what $1.09 buys in 1939.
| Amount in 1931 | Value in 1939 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.91 |
| $5.00 | $4.57 |
| $10.00 | $9.14 |
| $20.00 | $18.29 |
| $50.00 | $45.72 |
| $100 | $91.45 |
| $500 | $457 |
| $1,000 | $914 |
| $5,000 | $4,572 |
| $10,000 | $9,145 |
| $100,000 | $91,447 |
| $1,000,000 | $914,474 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1931 spending costs in 1939, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1931 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | -1.11% | $91.45 |
| Apparel | -0.23% | $98.18 |
| Food | -1.11% | $91.47 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1931: 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 1931 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1931 | 15.2 | -9.0% | $100 |
| 1932 | 13.7 | -9.9% | $90.13 |
| 1933 | 13 | -5.1% | $85.53 |
| 1934 | 13.4 | 3.1% | $88.16 |
| 1935 | 13.7 | 2.2% | $90.13 |
| 1936 | 13.9 | 1.5% | $91.45 |
| 1937 | 14.4 | 3.6% | $94.74 |
| 1938 | 14.1 | -2.1% | $92.76 |
| 1939 | 13.9 | -1.4% | $91.45 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1931 to 1939: $100 is worth $91.45 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1931-to-1939/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1931 to 1939. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1931-to-1939/
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.