Inflation & buying power
What is 1918 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1918 has the same buying power as about $22.28 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1918 is about 2128%, or roughly 2.9% per year over 108 years.
What 1918 money is worth today
| In 1918 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $222.79 |
| $100.00 | $2,228 |
| $1,000 | $22,279 |
| $10,000 | $222,792 |
| $100,000 | $2,227,915 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1918 dollar is worth about $22.28 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1918 — 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 $22.28, because everyday prices have climbed about 2128% in the 108 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.04 bought in 1918.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1918: about 2128%.
- Average annual inflation: about 2.9% per year.
- Time span: 108 years (1918 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1918 worth today?
$1 in 1918 has the same buying power as about $22.28 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 2128% since then (an average of about 2.9% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1918?
Cumulative inflation from 1918 to May 2026 is about 2128%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1918 costs about $2,228 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.