U.S. inflation · 1939–1972
$100 in 1939 has the same buying power as
$301
in 1972
| Cumulative price change | 200.7% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.39% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $301 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $201 |
| CPI in 1939 | 13.9 |
| CPI in 1972 | 41.8 |
| Inflation in 1939 | -1.42% |
| Inflation in 1972 | 3.21% |
| $100 in 1939 → 1972 | $301 |
| $100 in 1972 → 1939 | $33.25 |
Between 1939 and 1972, the Consumer Price Index went from 13.9 to 41.8. Cumulatively, prices increased 200.7%, which works out to an average of 3.39% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1939 bought what $0.33 buys in 1972.
| Amount in 1939 | Value in 1972 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $3.01 |
| $5.00 | $15.04 |
| $10.00 | $30.07 |
| $20.00 | $60.14 |
| $50.00 | $150 |
| $100 | $301 |
| $500 | $1,504 |
| $1,000 | $3,007 |
| $5,000 | $15,036 |
| $10,000 | $30,072 |
| $100,000 | $300,719 |
| $1,000,000 | $3,007,194 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1939 spending costs in 1972, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1939 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.39% | $301 |
| Medical care | 3.98% | $362 |
| Food | 3.93% | $357 |
| Apparel | 3.26% | $288 |
| Transportation | 3.16% | $279 |
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 |
| 1941 | 14.7 | 5.0% | $106 |
| 1943 | 17.3 | 6.1% | $124 |
| 1945 | 18 | 2.3% | $129 |
| 1947 | 22.3 | 14.4% | $160 |
| 1949 | 23.8 | -1.2% | $171 |
| 1951 | 26 | 7.9% | $187 |
| 1953 | 26.7 | 0.8% | $192 |
| 1955 | 26.8 | -0.4% | $193 |
| 1957 | 28.1 | 3.3% | $202 |
| 1959 | 29.1 | 0.7% | $209 |
| 1961 | 29.9 | 1.0% | $215 |
| 1963 | 30.6 | 1.3% | $220 |
| 1965 | 31.5 | 1.6% | $227 |
| 1967 | 33.4 | 3.1% | $240 |
| 1969 | 36.7 | 5.5% | $264 |
| 1971 | 40.5 | 4.4% | $291 |
| 1972 | 41.8 | 3.2% | $301 |
Long periods are sampled every 2 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1939 to 1972: $100 is worth $301 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1939-to-1972/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1939 to 1972. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1939-to-1972/
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.