U.S. inflation · 1938–1959
$100 in 1938 has the same buying power as
$206
in 1959
| Cumulative price change | 106.4% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.51% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $206 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $106 |
| CPI in 1938 | 14.1 |
| CPI in 1959 | 29.1 |
| Inflation in 1938 | -2.08% |
| Inflation in 1959 | 0.69% |
| $100 in 1938 → 1959 | $206 |
| $100 in 1959 → 1938 | $48.45 |
Between 1938 and 1959, the Consumer Price Index went from 14.1 to 29.1. Cumulatively, prices increased 106.4%, which works out to an average of 3.51% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1938 bought what $0.48 buys in 1959.
| Amount in 1938 | Value in 1959 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.06 |
| $5.00 | $10.32 |
| $10.00 | $20.64 |
| $20.00 | $41.28 |
| $50.00 | $103 |
| $100 | $206 |
| $500 | $1,032 |
| $1,000 | $2,064 |
| $5,000 | $10,319 |
| $10,000 | $20,638 |
| $100,000 | $206,383 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,063,830 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1938 spending costs in 1959, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1938 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.51% | $206 |
| Food | 4.37% | $245 |
| Medical care | 3.57% | $209 |
| Apparel | 3.49% | $205 |
| Transportation | 3.46% | $204 |
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 |
| 1940 | 14 | 0.7% | $99.29 |
| 1941 | 14.7 | 5.0% | $104 |
| 1942 | 16.3 | 10.9% | $116 |
| 1943 | 17.3 | 6.1% | $123 |
| 1944 | 17.6 | 1.7% | $125 |
| 1945 | 18 | 2.3% | $128 |
| 1946 | 19.5 | 8.3% | $138 |
| 1947 | 22.3 | 14.4% | $158 |
| 1948 | 24.1 | 8.1% | $171 |
| 1949 | 23.8 | -1.2% | $169 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | 1.3% | $171 |
| 1951 | 26 | 7.9% | $184 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $188 |
| 1953 | 26.7 | 0.8% | $189 |
| 1954 | 26.9 | 0.7% | $191 |
| 1955 | 26.8 | -0.4% | $190 |
| 1956 | 27.2 | 1.5% | $193 |
| 1957 | 28.1 | 3.3% | $199 |
| 1958 | 28.9 | 2.8% | $205 |
| 1959 | 29.1 | 0.7% | $206 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1938 to 1959: $100 is worth $206 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1938-to-1959/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1938 to 1959. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1938-to-1959/
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.