U.S. inflation · 1945–1953
$100 in 1945 has the same buying power as
$148
in 1953
| Cumulative price change | 48.3% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 5.05% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $148 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $48.33 |
| CPI in 1945 | 18 |
| CPI in 1953 | 26.7 |
| Inflation in 1945 | 2.27% |
| Inflation in 1953 | 0.75% |
| $100 in 1945 → 1953 | $148 |
| $100 in 1953 → 1945 | $67.42 |
Between 1945 and 1953, the Consumer Price Index went from 18 to 26.7. Cumulatively, prices increased 48.3%, which works out to an average of 5.05% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1945 bought what $0.67 buys in 1953.
| Amount in 1945 | Value in 1953 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $1.48 |
| $5.00 | $7.42 |
| $10.00 | $14.83 |
| $20.00 | $29.67 |
| $50.00 | $74.17 |
| $100 | $148 |
| $500 | $742 |
| $1,000 | $1,483 |
| $5,000 | $7,417 |
| $10,000 | $14,833 |
| $100,000 | $148,333 |
| $1,000,000 | $1,483,333 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1945 spending costs in 1953, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1945 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 5.05% | $148 |
| Transportation | 6.59% | $167 |
| Food | 6.35% | $164 |
| Medical care | 4.79% | $145 |
| Apparel | 4.04% | $137 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1945: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1945 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1945 | 18 | 2.3% | $100 |
| 1946 | 19.5 | 8.3% | $108 |
| 1947 | 22.3 | 14.4% | $124 |
| 1948 | 24.1 | 8.1% | $134 |
| 1949 | 23.8 | -1.2% | $132 |
| 1950 | 24.1 | 1.3% | $134 |
| 1951 | 26 | 7.9% | $144 |
| 1952 | 26.5 | 1.9% | $147 |
| 1953 | 26.7 | 0.8% | $148 |
MLA: “Inflation from 1945 to 1953: $100 is worth $148 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1945-to-1953/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1945 to 1953. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1945-to-1953/
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.