Value of $100 from 1920 to 1917
$100 in 1920 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $64 in 1917, an increase of $-36.00 over 3 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 16.04% per year between 1917 and 1920, producing a cumulative price increase of -36.00%.
This means that prices in 1917 are 36% lower than average prices since 1920, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.
The inflation rate in 1917 was 17.43%. The inflation rate in 1920 was 15.61%. The 1920 inflation rate is higher compared to the average inflation rate of 2.69% per year between 1920 and 2024.
Contents
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| Cumulative price change | -36.00% |
| Average inflation rate | 16.04% |
| Converted amount $100 base | $64 |
| Price difference $100 base | $-36.00 |
| CPI in 1920 | 20.000 |
| CPI in 1917 | 12.800 |
| Inflation in 1917 | 17.43% |
| Inflation in 1920 | 15.61% |
| $100 in 1920 | $64 in 1917 |
Buying power of $100 in 1917
This chart shows a calculation of buying power equivalence for $100 in 1917 (price index tracking began in 1635).
For example, if you started with $100, you would need to end with $64 in order to "adjust" for inflation (sometimes refered to as "beating inflation").
When $100 is equivalent to $64 over time, that means that the "real value" of a single U.S. dollar decreases over time. In other words, a dollar will pay for fewer items at the store.
This effect explains how inflation erodes the value of a dollar over time. By calculating the value in 1917 dollars, the chart below shows how $100 is worth less over 3 years.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, each of these USD amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
This conversion table shows various other 1917 amounts in 1920 dollars, based on the -36.00% change in prices:
| Initial value | Equivalent value |
|---|---|
| $1 dollar in 1917 | $1.56 dollars in 1920 |
| $5 dollars in 1917 | $7.81 dollars in 1920 |
| $10 dollars in 1917 | $15.63 dollars in 1920 |
| $50 dollars in 1917 | $78.13 dollars in 1920 |
| $100 dollars in 1917 | $156.25 dollars in 1920 |
| $500 dollars in 1917 | $781.25 dollars in 1920 |
| $1,000 dollars in 1917 | $1,562.50 dollars in 1920 |
| $5,000 dollars in 1917 | $7,812.50 dollars in 1920 |
| $10,000 dollars in 1917 | $15,625.00 dollars in 1920 |
| $50,000 dollars in 1917 | $78,125.00 dollars in 1920 |
| $100,000 dollars in 1917 | $156,250.00 dollars in 1920 |
| $500,000 dollars in 1917 | $781,250.00 dollars in 1920 |
| $1,000,000 dollars in 1917 | $1,562,500.00 dollars in 1920 |
Inflation by City
Inflation can vary widely by city, even within the United States. Here's how some cities fared in 1920 to 1917 (figures shown are purchasing power equivalents of $100):
- Seattle, Washington: 24.10% average rate, $100 → $191.14, cumulative change of 91.14%
- Detroit, Michigan: 21.75% average rate, $100 → $180.49, cumulative change of 80.49%
- New York: 20.46% average rate, $100 → $174.80, cumulative change of 74.80%
- Houston, Texas: 19.93% average rate, $100 → $172.50, cumulative change of 72.50%
- Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: 19.81% average rate, $100 → $171.98, cumulative change of 71.98%
- Chicago, Illinois: 19.07% average rate, $100 → $168.82, cumulative change of 68.82%
- Boston, Massachusetts: 18.76% average rate, $100 → $167.48, cumulative change of 67.48%
- San Francisco, California: 18.63% average rate, $100 → $166.94, cumulative change of 66.94%
Seattle, Washington experienced the highest rate of inflation during the 3 years between 1917 and 1920 (24.10%).
San Francisco, California experienced the lowest rate of inflation during the 3 years between 1917 and 1920 (18.63%).
Note that some locations showing 0% inflation may have not yet reported latest data.
Inflation by Country
Inflation can also vary widely by country. For comparison, in the UK £100.00 in 1920 would be equivalent to £64.43 in 1917, an absolute change of £-35.57 and a cumulative change of -35.57%.
In Canada, CA$100.00 in 1920 would be equivalent to CA$69.41 in 1917, an absolute change of CA$-30.59 and a cumulative change of -30.59%.
Compare these numbers to the US's overall absolute change of $-36.00 and total percent change of -36.00%.
Inflation by Spending Category
CPI is the weighted combination of many categories of spending that are tracked by the government. Breaking down these categories helps explain the main drivers behind price changes.
This chart shows the average rate of inflation for select CPI categories between 1920 and 1917.
Compare these values to the overall average of 16.04% per year:
| Category | Avg Inflation (%) | Total Inflation (%) | $100 in 1917 → 1920 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food and beverages | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Housing | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Apparel | 26.39 | 101.89 | 201.89 |
| Transportation | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Medical care | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Recreation | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Education and communication | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Other goods and services | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
The graph below compares inflation in categories of goods over time. Click on a category such as "Food" to toggle it on or off:
For all these visualizations, it's important to note that not all categories may have been tracked since 1920. This table and charts use the earliest available data for each category.
How to calculate inflation rate for $100, 1917 to 1920
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1917 and 1920:
CPI in 1917 CPI in 1920
×
1920 USD value
=
1917 USD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The U.S. CPI was 20 in the year 1920 and 12.8 in 1917:
12.820
×
$100
=
$64
$100 in 1920 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $64 in 1917.
To get the total inflation rate for the 3 years between 1917 and 1920, we use the following formula:
CPI in 1917 - CPI in 1920CPI in 1920
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (3 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
12.8 - 2020
×
100
=
-36%
Data source & citation
Raw data for these calculations comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI), established in 1913. Price index data from 1774 to 1912 is sourced from a historical study conducted by political science professor Robert Sahr at Oregon State University and from the American Antiquarian Society. Price index data from 1634 to 1773 is from the American Antiquarian Society, using British pound equivalents.
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “$100 in 1920 → 1917 | Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 15 Nov. 2024, https://www.officialdata.org/1920-dollars-in-1917?amount=100.
Special thanks to QuickChart for their chart image API, which is used for chart downloads.
| Cumulative price change | -36.00% |
| Average inflation rate | 16.04% |
| Converted amount $100 base | $64 |
| Price difference $100 base | $-36.00 |
| CPI in 1920 | 20.000 |
| CPI in 1917 | 12.800 |
| Inflation in 1917 | 17.43% |
| Inflation in 1920 | 15.61% |
| $100 in 1920 | $64 in 1917 |