U.S. inflation · 1943–1947
$100 in 1943 has the same buying power as
$129
in 1947
| Cumulative price change | 28.9% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 6.55% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $129 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $28.90 |
| CPI in 1943 | 17.3 |
| CPI in 1947 | 22.3 |
| Inflation in 1943 | 6.13% |
| Inflation in 1947 | 14.36% |
| $100 in 1943 → 1947 | $129 |
| $100 in 1947 → 1943 | $77.58 |
Between 1943 and 1947, the Consumer Price Index went from 17.3 to 22.3. Cumulatively, prices increased 28.9%, which works out to an average of 6.55% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1943 bought what $0.78 buys in 1947.
| Amount in 1943 | Value in 1947 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.29 |
| $5.00 | $6.45 |
| $10.00 | $12.89 |
| $20.00 | $25.78 |
| $50.00 | $64.45 |
| $100 | $129 |
| $500 | $645 |
| $1,000 | $1,289 |
| $5,000 | $6,445 |
| $10,000 | $12,890 |
| $100,000 | $128,902 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,289,017 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1943 spending costs in 1947, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1943 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 6.55% | $129 |
| Apparel | 9.45% | $144 |
| Food | 8.96% | $141 |
| Medical care | 4.78% | $121 |
| Transportation | 3.86% | $116 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1943: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1943 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1943 | 17.3 | 6.1% | $100 |
| 1944 | 17.6 | 1.7% | $102 |
| 1945 | 18 | 2.3% | $104 |
| 1946 | 19.5 | 8.3% | $113 |
| 1947 | 22.3 | 14.4% | $129 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1943 to 1947: $100 is worth $129 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1943-to-1947/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1943 to 1947. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1943-to-1947/
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.