Inflation & buying power
What is 1915 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1915 has the same buying power as about $33.15 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1915 is about 3215%, or roughly 3.2% per year over 111 years.
What 1915 money is worth today
| In 1915 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $331.54 |
| $100.00 | $3,315 |
| $1,000 | $33,154 |
| $10,000 | $331,542 |
| $100,000 | $3,315,423 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1915 dollar is worth about $33.15 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1915 — 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 $33.15, because everyday prices have climbed about 3215% in the 111 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.03 bought in 1915.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1915: about 3215%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.2% per year.
- Time span: 111 years (1915 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1915 worth today?
$1 in 1915 has the same buying power as about $33.15 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 3215% since then (an average of about 3.2% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1915?
Cumulative inflation from 1915 to May 2026 is about 3215%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1915 costs about $3,315 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.