U.S. inflation · 1938–1966
$100 in 1938 has the same buying power as
$230
in 1966
| Cumulative price change | 129.8% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.02% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $230 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $130 |
| CPI in 1938 | 14.1 |
| CPI in 1966 | 32.4 |
| Inflation in 1938 | -2.08% |
| Inflation in 1966 | 2.86% |
| $100 in 1938 → 1966 | $230 |
| $100 in 1966 → 1938 | $43.52 |
Between 1938 and 1966, the Consumer Price Index went from 14.1 to 32.4. Cumulatively, prices increased 129.8%, which works out to an average of 3.02% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1938 bought what $0.44 buys in 1966.
| Amount in 1938 | Value in 1966 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.30 |
| $5.00 | $11.49 |
| $10.00 | $22.98 |
| $20.00 | $45.96 |
| $50.00 | $115 |
| $100 | $230 |
| $500 | $1,149 |
| $1,000 | $2,298 |
| $5,000 | $11,489 |
| $10,000 | $22,979 |
| $100,000 | $229,787 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,297,872 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1938 spending costs in 1966, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1938 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.02% | $230 |
| Food | 3.74% | $279 |
| Medical care | 3.40% | $255 |
| Apparel | 2.92% | $224 |
| Transportation | 2.88% | $221 |
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 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | 1.7% | $210 |
| 1961 | 29.9 | 1.0% | $212 |
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $214 |
| 1963 | 30.6 | 1.3% | $217 |
| 1964 | 31 | 1.3% | $220 |
| 1965 | 31.5 | 1.6% | $223 |
| 1966 | 32.4 | 2.9% | $230 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1938 to 1966: $100 is worth $230 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1938-to-1966/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1938 to 1966. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1938-to-1966/
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.