Inflation & buying power
What is 1913 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1913 has the same buying power as about $33.91 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1913 is about 3291%, or roughly 3.2% per year over 113 years.
What 1913 money is worth today
| In 1913 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $339.09 |
| $100.00 | $3,391 |
| $1,000 | $33,909 |
| $10,000 | $339,090 |
| $100,000 | $3,390,904 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1913 dollar is worth about $33.91 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1913 — during the World War I era — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $33.91, because everyday prices have climbed about 3291% in the 113 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.03 bought in 1913.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1913: about 3291%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.2% per year.
- Time span: 113 years (1913 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1913 worth today?
$1 in 1913 has the same buying power as about $33.91 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 3291% since then (an average of about 3.2% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1913?
Cumulative inflation from 1913 to May 2026 is about 3291%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1913 costs about $3,391 now.
Where does this data come from?
It uses the U.S. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, series CPIAUCNS) published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED, using annual-average CPI for past years and the latest monthly value for today.