U.S. inflation · 1942–1961
$100 in 1942 has the same buying power as
$183
in 1961
| Cumulative price change | 83.4% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.24% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $183 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $83.44 |
| CPI in 1942 | 16.3 |
| CPI in 1961 | 29.9 |
| Inflation in 1942 | 10.88% |
| Inflation in 1961 | 1.01% |
| $100 in 1942 → 1961 | $183 |
| $100 in 1961 → 1942 | $54.52 |
Between 1942 and 1961, the Consumer Price Index went from 16.3 to 29.9. Cumulatively, prices increased 83.4%, which works out to an average of 3.24% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1942 bought what $0.55 buys in 1961.
| Amount in 1942 | Value in 1961 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.83 |
| $5.00 | $9.17 |
| $10.00 | $18.34 |
| $20.00 | $36.69 |
| $50.00 | $91.72 |
| $100 | $183 |
| $500 | $917 |
| $1,000 | $1,834 |
| $5,000 | $9,172 |
| $10,000 | $18,344 |
| $100,000 | $183,436 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,834,356 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1942 spending costs in 1961, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1942 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.24% | $183 |
| Medical care | 4.09% | $214 |
| Food | 3.64% | $197 |
| Transportation | 3.38% | $188 |
| Apparel | 2.92% | $173 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1942: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1942 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1942 | 16.3 | 10.9% | $100 |
| 1943 | 17.3 | 6.1% | $106 |
| 1944 | 17.6 | 1.7% | $108 |
| 1945 | 18 | 2.3% | $110 |
| 1946 | 19.5 | 8.3% | $120 |
| 1947 | 22.3 | 14.4% | $137 |
| 1948 | 24.1 | 8.1% | $148 |
| 1949 | 23.8 | -1.2% | $146 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | 1.3% | $148 |
| 1951 | 26 | 7.9% | $160 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $163 |
| 1953 | 26.7 | 0.8% | $164 |
| 1954 | 26.9 | 0.7% | $165 |
| 1955 | 26.8 | -0.4% | $164 |
| 1956 | 27.2 | 1.5% | $167 |
| 1957 | 28.1 | 3.3% | $172 |
| 1958 | 28.9 | 2.8% | $177 |
| 1959 | 29.1 | 0.7% | $179 |
| 1960 | 29.6 | 1.7% | $182 |
| 1961 | 29.9 | 1.0% | $183 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1942 to 1961: $100 is worth $183 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1942-to-1961/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1942 to 1961. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1942-to-1961/
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.