U.S. inflation · 1938–1939
$100 in 1938 has the same buying power as
$98.58
in 1939
| Cumulative price change | -1.4% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | -1.42% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $98.58 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | -$1.42 |
| CPI in 1938 | 14.1 |
| CPI in 1939 | 13.9 |
| Inflation in 1938 | -2.08% |
| Inflation in 1939 | -1.42% |
| $100 in 1938 → 1939 | $98.58 |
| $100 in 1939 → 1938 | $101 |
Between 1938 and 1939, the Consumer Price Index went from 14.1 to 13.9. Cumulatively, prices declined 1.4%, which works out to an average of -1.42% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1938 bought what $1.01 buys in 1939.
| Amount in 1938 | Value in 1939 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $0.99 |
| $5.00 | $4.93 |
| $10.00 | $9.86 |
| $20.00 | $19.72 |
| $50.00 | $49.29 |
| $100 | $98.58 |
| $500 | $493 |
| $1,000 | $986 |
| $5,000 | $4,929 |
| $10,000 | $9,858 |
| $100,000 | $98,582 |
| $1,000,000 | $985,816 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1938 spending costs in 1939, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1938 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | -1.42% | $98.58 |
| Medical care | 0.00% | $100 |
| Apparel | -1.37% | $98.63 |
| Transportation | -2.05% | $97.95 |
| Food | -2.48% | $97.52 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1938: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1938 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | 14.1 | -2.1% | $100 |
| 1939 | 13.9 | -1.4% | $98.58 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1938 to 1939: $100 is worth $98.58 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1938-to-1939/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1938 to 1939. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1938-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.