U.S. inflation · 1939–1968
$100 in 1939 has the same buying power as
$250
in 1968
| Cumulative price change | 150.4% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.22% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $250 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $150 |
| CPI in 1939 | 13.9 |
| CPI in 1968 | 34.8 |
| Inflation in 1939 | -1.42% |
| Inflation in 1968 | 4.19% |
| $100 in 1939 → 1968 | $250 |
| $100 in 1968 → 1939 | $39.94 |
Between 1939 and 1968, the Consumer Price Index went from 13.9 to 34.8. Cumulatively, prices increased 150.4%, which works out to an average of 3.22% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1939 bought what $0.40 buys in 1968.
| Amount in 1939 | Value in 1968 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $2.50 |
| $5.00 | $12.52 |
| $10.00 | $25.04 |
| $20.00 | $50.07 |
| $50.00 | $125 |
| $100 | $250 |
| $500 | $1,252 |
| $1,000 | $2,504 |
| $5,000 | $12,518 |
| $10,000 | $25,036 |
| $100,000 | $250,360 |
| $1,000,000 | $2,503,597 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1939 spending costs in 1968, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1939 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.22% | $250 |
| Food | 3.85% | $299 |
| Medical care | 3.74% | $290 |
| Apparel | 3.19% | $249 |
| Transportation | 3.06% | $240 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1939: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1939 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1939 | 13.9 | -1.4% | $100 |
| 1940 | 14 | 0.7% | $101 |
| 1941 | 14.7 | 5.0% | $106 |
| 1942 | 16.3 | 10.9% | $117 |
| 1943 | 17.3 | 6.1% | $124 |
| 1944 | 17.6 | 1.7% | $127 |
| 1945 | 18 | 2.3% | $129 |
| 1946 | 19.5 | 8.3% | $140 |
| 1947 | 22.3 | 14.4% | $160 |
| 1948 | 24.1 | 8.1% | $173 |
| 1949 | 23.8 | -1.2% | $171 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | 1.3% | $173 |
| 1951 | 26 | 7.9% | $187 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $191 |
| 1953 | 26.7 | 0.8% | $192 |
| 1954 | 26.9 | 0.7% | $194 |
| 1955 | 26.8 | -0.4% | $193 |
| 1956 | 27.2 | 1.5% | $196 |
| 1957 | 28.1 | 3.3% | $202 |
| 1958 | 28.9 | 2.8% | $208 |
| 1959 | 29.1 | 0.7% | $209 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | 1.7% | $213 |
| 1961 | 29.9 | 1.0% | $215 |
| 1962 | 30.2 | 1.0% | $217 |
| 1963 | 30.6 | 1.3% | $220 |
| 1964 | 31 | 1.3% | $223 |
| 1965 | 31.5 | 1.6% | $227 |
| 1966 | 32.4 | 2.9% | $233 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $240 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $250 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1939 to 1968: $100 is worth $250 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1939-to-1968/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1939 to 1968. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1939-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.