U.S. inflation · 1938–1968
$100 in 1938 has the same buying power as
$247
in 1968
| Cumulative price change | 146.8% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.06% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $247 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $147 |
| CPI in 1938 | 14.1 |
| CPI in 1968 | 34.8 |
| Inflation in 1938 | -2.08% |
| Inflation in 1968 | 4.19% |
| $100 in 1938 → 1968 | $247 |
| $100 in 1968 → 1938 | $40.52 |
Between 1938 and 1968, the Consumer Price Index went from 14.1 to 34.8. Cumulatively, prices increased 146.8%, which works out to an average of 3.06% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1938 bought what $0.41 buys in 1968.
| Amount in 1938 | Value in 1968 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.47 |
| $5.00 | $12.34 |
| $10.00 | $24.68 |
| $20.00 | $49.36 |
| $50.00 | $123 |
| $100 | $247 |
| $500 | $1,234 |
| $1,000 | $2,468 |
| $5,000 | $12,340 |
| $10,000 | $24,681 |
| $100,000 | $246,809 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,468,085 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1938 spending costs in 1968, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1938 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.06% | $247 |
| Food | 3.63% | $292 |
| Medical care | 3.62% | $290 |
| Apparel | 3.03% | $245 |
| Transportation | 2.89% | $235 |
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 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $237 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $247 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1938 to 1968: $100 is worth $247 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1938-to-1968/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1938 to 1968. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1938-to-1968/
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.