Inflation & buying power
What is 1913 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1913 has the same buying power as about $33.91 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1913 is about 3291%, or roughly 3.2% per year over 113 years.
What 1913 money is worth today
| In 1913 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $339.09 |
| $100.00 | $3,391 |
| $1,000 | $33,909 |
| $10,000 | $339,090 |
| $100,000 | $3,390,904 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1913 dollar is worth about $33.91 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1913 — 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 $33.91, because everyday prices have climbed about 3291% in the 113 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.03 bought in 1913.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1913: about 3291%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.2% per year.
- Time span: 113 years (1913 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1913 worth today?
$1 in 1913 has the same buying power as about $33.91 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 3291% since then (an average of about 3.2% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1913?
Cumulative inflation from 1913 to May 2026 is about 3291%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1913 costs about $3,391 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.
Last reviewed June 20, 2026. Figures based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Estimates for general education, not financial advice.