U.S. inflation · 1937–1942
$100 in 1937 has the same buying power as
$113
in 1942
| Cumulative price change | 13.2% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 2.51% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $113 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $13.19 |
| CPI in 1937 | 14.4 |
| CPI in 1942 | 16.3 |
| Inflation in 1937 | 3.60% |
| Inflation in 1942 | 10.88% |
| $100 in 1937 → 1942 | $113 |
| $100 in 1942 → 1937 | $88.34 |
Between 1937 and 1942, the Consumer Price Index went from 14.4 to 16.3. Cumulatively, prices increased 13.2%, which works out to an average of 2.51% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1937 bought what $0.88 buys in 1942.
| Amount in 1937 | Value in 1942 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.13 |
| $5.00 | $5.66 |
| $10.00 | $11.32 |
| $20.00 | $22.64 |
| $50.00 | $56.60 |
| $100 | $113 |
| $500 | $566 |
| $1,000 | $1,132 |
| $5,000 | $5,660 |
| $10,000 | $11,319 |
| $100,000 | $113,194 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,131,944 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1937 spending costs in 1942, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1937 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 2.51% | $113 |
| Apparel | 3.95% | $121 |
| Food | 3.29% | $118 |
| Transportation | 1.99% | $110 |
| Medical care | 0.76% | $104 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1937: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1937 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1937 | 14.4 | 3.6% | $100 |
| 1938 | 14.1 | -2.1% | $97.92 |
| 1939 | 13.9 | -1.4% | $96.53 |
| 1940 | 14 | 0.7% | $97.22 |
| 1941 | 14.7 | 5.0% | $102 |
| 1942 | 16.3 | 10.9% | $113 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1937 to 1942: $100 is worth $113 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1937-to-1942/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1937 to 1942. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1937-to-1942/
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.