U.S. inflation · 1935–2013
$100 in 1935 has the same buying power as
$1,700
in 2013
| Cumulative price change | 1600.4% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.70% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $1,700 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $1,600 |
| CPI in 1935 | 13.7 |
| CPI in 2013 | 232.957 |
| Inflation in 1935 | 2.24% |
| Inflation in 2013 | 1.46% |
| $100 in 1935 → 2013 | $1,700 |
| $100 in 2013 → 1935 | $5.88 |
Between 1935 and 2013, the Consumer Price Index went from 13.7 to 232.957. Cumulatively, prices increased 1600.4%, which works out to an average of 3.70% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1935 bought what $0.06 buys in 2013.
| Amount in 1935 | Value in 2013 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $17.00 |
| $5.00 | $85.02 |
| $10.00 | $170 |
| $20.00 | $340 |
| $50.00 | $850 |
| $100 | $1,700 |
| $500 | $8,502 |
| $1,000 | $17,004 |
| $5,000 | $85,021 |
| $10,000 | $170,042 |
| $100,000 | $1,700,416 |
| $1,000,000 | $17,004,161 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1935 spending costs in 2013, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1935 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.70% | $1,700 |
| Medical care | 4.90% | $4,168 |
| Food | 3.86% | $1,912 |
| Transportation | 3.56% | $1,531 |
| Apparel | 2.35% | $613 |
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 |
| 1940 | 14 | 0.7% | $102 |
| 1945 | 18 | 2.3% | $131 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | 1.3% | $176 |
| 1955 | 26.8 | -0.4% | $196 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | 1.7% | $216 |
| 1965 | 31.5 | 1.6% | $230 |
| 1970 | 38.8 | 5.7% | $283 |
| 1975 | 53.8 | 9.1% | $393 |
| 1980 | 82.4 | 13.5% | $601 |
| 1985 | 107.6 | 3.6% | $785 |
| 1990 | 130.7 | 5.4% | $954 |
| 1995 | 152.4 | 2.8% | $1,112 |
| 2000 | 172.2 | 3.4% | $1,257 |
| 2005 | 195.3 | 3.4% | $1,426 |
| 2010 | 218.056 | 1.6% | $1,592 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $1,700 |
Long periods are sampled every 5 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1935 to 2013: $100 is worth $1,700 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1935-to-2013/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1935 to 2013. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1935-to-2013/
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.