U.S. inflation · 1937–2003
$100 in 1937 has the same buying power as
$1,278
in 2003
| Cumulative price change | 1177.8% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.94% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $1,278 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $1,178 |
| CPI in 1937 | 14.4 |
| CPI in 2003 | 184 |
| Inflation in 1937 | 3.60% |
| Inflation in 2003 | 2.28% |
| $100 in 1937 → 2003 | $1,278 |
| $100 in 2003 → 1937 | $7.83 |
Between 1937 and 2003, the Consumer Price Index went from 14.4 to 184. Cumulatively, prices increased 1177.8%, which works out to an average of 3.94% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1937 bought what $0.08 buys in 2003.
| Amount in 1937 | Value in 2003 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $12.78 |
| $5.00 | $63.89 |
| $10.00 | $128 |
| $20.00 | $256 |
| $50.00 | $639 |
| $100 | $1,278 |
| $500 | $6,389 |
| $1,000 | $12,778 |
| $5,000 | $63,889 |
| $10,000 | $127,778 |
| $100,000 | $1,277,778 |
| $1,000,000 | $12,777,778 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1937 spending costs in 2003, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1937 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.94% | $1,278 |
| Medical care | 5.23% | $2,884 |
| Food | 4.05% | $1,374 |
| Transportation | 3.68% | $1,087 |
| Apparel | 2.62% | $550 |
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 |
| 1942 | 16.3 | 10.9% | $113 |
| 1947 | 22.3 | 14.4% | $155 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $184 |
| 1957 | 28.1 | 3.3% | $195 |
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $210 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $232 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $290 |
| 1977 | 60.6 | 6.5% | $421 |
| 1982 | 96.5 | 6.2% | $670 |
| 1987 | 113.6 | 3.6% | $789 |
| 1992 | 140.3 | 3.0% | $974 |
| 1997 | 160.5 | 2.3% | $1,115 |
| 2002 | 179.9 | 1.6% | $1,249 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $1,278 |
Long periods are sampled every 5 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1937 to 2003: $100 is worth $1,278 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1937-to-2003/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1937 to 2003. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1937-to-2003/
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.