Inflation & buying power
What is 1927 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1927 has the same buying power as about $19.31 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1927 is about 1831%, or roughly 3.0% per year over 99 years.
What 1927 money is worth today
| In 1927 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $193.07 |
| $100.00 | $1,931 |
| $1,000 | $19,307 |
| $10,000 | $193,065 |
| $100,000 | $1,930,654 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1927 dollar is worth about $19.31 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1927 — during the Roaring Twenties — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $19.31, because everyday prices have climbed about 1831% in the 99 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.05 bought in 1927.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1927: about 1831%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.0% per year.
- Time span: 99 years (1927 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1927 worth today?
$1 in 1927 has the same buying power as about $19.31 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 1831% since then (an average of about 3.0% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1927?
Cumulative inflation from 1927 to May 2026 is about 1831%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1927 costs about $1,931 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.