U.S. inflation · 1935–1961
$100 in 1935 has the same buying power as
$218
in 1961
| Cumulative price change | 118.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.05% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $218 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $118 |
| CPI in 1935 | 13.7 |
| CPI in 1961 | 29.9 |
| Inflation in 1935 | 2.24% |
| Inflation in 1961 | 1.01% |
| $100 in 1935 → 1961 | $218 |
| $100 in 1961 → 1935 | $45.82 |
Between 1935 and 1961, the Consumer Price Index went from 13.7 to 29.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 118.2%, which works out to an average of 3.05% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1935 bought what $0.46 buys in 1961.
| Amount in 1935 | Value in 1961 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.18 |
| $5.00 | $10.91 |
| $10.00 | $21.82 |
| $20.00 | $43.65 |
| $50.00 | $109 |
| $100 | $218 |
| $500 | $1,091 |
| $1,000 | $2,182 |
| $5,000 | $10,912 |
| $10,000 | $21,825 |
| $100,000 | $218,248 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,182,482 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1935 spending costs in 1961, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1935 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.05% | $218 |
| Food | 3.51% | $245 |
| Medical care | 3.16% | $225 |
| Apparel | 3.11% | $222 |
| Transportation | 2.93% | $212 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1935: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1935 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1935 | 13.7 | 2.2% | $100 |
| 1936 | 13.9 | 1.5% | $101 |
| 1937 | 14.4 | 3.6% | $105 |
| 1938 | 14.1 | -2.1% | $103 |
| 1939 | 13.9 | -1.4% | $101 |
| 1940 | 14 | 0.7% | $102 |
| 1941 | 14.7 | 5.0% | $107 |
| 1942 | 16.3 | 10.9% | $119 |
| 1943 | 17.3 | 6.1% | $126 |
| 1944 | 17.6 | 1.7% | $128 |
| 1945 | 18 | 2.3% | $131 |
| 1946 | 19.5 | 8.3% | $142 |
| 1947 | 22.3 | 14.4% | $163 |
| 1948 | 24.1 | 8.1% | $176 |
| 1949 | 23.8 | -1.2% | $174 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | 1.3% | $176 |
| 1951 | 26 | 7.9% | $190 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $193 |
| 1953 | 26.7 | 0.8% | $195 |
| 1954 | 26.9 | 0.7% | $196 |
| 1955 | 26.8 | -0.4% | $196 |
| 1956 | 27.2 | 1.5% | $199 |
| 1957 | 28.1 | 3.3% | $205 |
| 1958 | 28.9 | 2.8% | $211 |
| 1959 | 29.1 | 0.7% | $212 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | 1.7% | $216 |
| 1961 | 29.9 | 1.0% | $218 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1935 to 1961: $100 is worth $218 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1935-to-1961/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1935 to 1961. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1935-to-1961/
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.