U.S. inflation · 1933–1939
$100 in 1933 has the same buying power as
$107
in 1939
| Cumulative price change | 6.9% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 1.12% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $107 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $6.92 |
| CPI in 1933 | 13 |
| CPI in 1939 | 13.9 |
| Inflation in 1933 | -5.11% |
| Inflation in 1939 | -1.42% |
| $100 in 1933 → 1939 | $107 |
| $100 in 1939 → 1933 | $93.53 |
Between 1933 and 1939, the Consumer Price Index went from 13 to 13.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 6.9%, which works out to an average of 1.12% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1933 bought what $0.94 buys in 1939.
| Amount in 1933 | Value in 1939 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.07 |
| $5.00 | $5.35 |
| $10.00 | $10.69 |
| $20.00 | $21.38 |
| $50.00 | $53.46 |
| $100 | $107 |
| $500 | $535 |
| $1,000 | $1,069 |
| $5,000 | $5,346 |
| $10,000 | $10,692 |
| $100,000 | $106,923 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,069,231 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1933 spending costs in 1939, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1933 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 1.12% | $107 |
| Apparel | 2.34% | $115 |
| Food | 2.13% | $113 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1933: 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 1933 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1933 | 13 | -5.1% | $100 |
| 1934 | 13.4 | 3.1% | $103 |
| 1935 | 13.7 | 2.2% | $105 |
| 1936 | 13.9 | 1.5% | $107 |
| 1937 | 14.4 | 3.6% | $111 |
| 1938 | 14.1 | -2.1% | $108 |
| 1939 | 13.9 | -1.4% | $107 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1933 to 1939: $100 is worth $107 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1933-to-1939/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1933 to 1939. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1933-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.