U.S. inflation · 1931–1956
$100 in 1931 has the same buying power as
$179
in 1956
| Cumulative price change | 78.9% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.35% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $179 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $78.95 |
| CPI in 1931 | 15.2 |
| CPI in 1956 | 27.2 |
| Inflation in 1931 | -8.98% |
| Inflation in 1956 | 1.49% |
| $100 in 1931 → 1956 | $179 |
| $100 in 1956 → 1931 | $55.88 |
Between 1931 and 1956, the Consumer Price Index went from 15.2 to 27.2. Cumulatively, prices increased 78.9%, which works out to an average of 2.35% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1931 bought what $0.56 buys in 1956.
| Amount in 1931 | Value in 1956 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.79 |
| $5.00 | $8.95 |
| $10.00 | $17.89 |
| $20.00 | $35.79 |
| $50.00 | $89.47 |
| $100 | $179 |
| $500 | $895 |
| $1,000 | $1,789 |
| $5,000 | $8,947 |
| $10,000 | $17,895 |
| $100,000 | $178,947 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,789,474 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1931 spending costs in 1956, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1931 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.35% | $179 |
| Food | 3.15% | $217 |
| Apparel | 2.78% | $199 |
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 |
| 1940 | 14 | 0.7% | $92.11 |
| 1941 | 14.7 | 5.0% | $96.71 |
| 1942 | 16.3 | 10.9% | $107 |
| 1943 | 17.3 | 6.1% | $114 |
| 1944 | 17.6 | 1.7% | $116 |
| 1945 | 18 | 2.3% | $118 |
| 1946 | 19.5 | 8.3% | $128 |
| 1947 | 22.3 | 14.4% | $147 |
| 1948 | 24.1 | 8.1% | $159 |
| 1949 | 23.8 | -1.2% | $157 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | 1.3% | $159 |
| 1951 | 26 | 7.9% | $171 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $174 |
| 1953 | 26.7 | 0.8% | $176 |
| 1954 | 26.9 | 0.7% | $177 |
| 1955 | 26.8 | -0.4% | $176 |
| 1956 | 27.2 | 1.5% | $179 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1931 to 1956: $100 is worth $179 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1931-to-1956/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1931 to 1956. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1931-to-1956/
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.