Inflation & buying power
What is 1917 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1917 has the same buying power as about $26.13 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1917 is about 2513%, or roughly 3.0% per year over 109 years.
What 1917 money is worth today
| In 1917 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $261.30 |
| $100.00 | $2,613 |
| $1,000 | $26,130 |
| $10,000 | $261,304 |
| $100,000 | $2,613,045 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1917 dollar is worth about $26.13 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1917 — 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 $26.13, because everyday prices have climbed about 2513% in the 109 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.04 bought in 1917.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1917: about 2513%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.0% per year.
- Time span: 109 years (1917 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1917 worth today?
$1 in 1917 has the same buying power as about $26.13 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 2513% since then (an average of about 3.0% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1917?
Cumulative inflation from 1917 to May 2026 is about 2513%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1917 costs about $2,613 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.