Inflation & buying power
What is 1929 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1929 has the same buying power as about $19.53 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1929 is about 1853%, or roughly 3.1% per year over 97 years.
What 1929 money is worth today
| In 1929 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $195.32 |
| $100.00 | $1,953 |
| $1,000 | $19,532 |
| $10,000 | $195,316 |
| $100,000 | $1,953,159 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1929 dollar is worth about $19.53 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1929 — during the Roaring Twenties — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $19.53, because everyday prices have climbed about 1853% in the 97 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.05 bought in 1929.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1929: about 1853%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.1% per year.
- Time span: 97 years (1929 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1929 worth today?
$1 in 1929 has the same buying power as about $19.53 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 1853% since then (an average of about 3.1% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1929?
Cumulative inflation from 1929 to May 2026 is about 1853%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1929 costs about $1,953 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.