Inflation & buying power
What is 1915 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1915 has the same buying power as about $33.15 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1915 is about 3215%, or roughly 3.2% per year over 111 years.
What 1915 money is worth today
| In 1915 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $331.54 |
| $100.00 | $3,315 |
| $1,000 | $33,154 |
| $10,000 | $331,542 |
| $100,000 | $3,315,423 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1915 dollar is worth about $33.15 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1915 — 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 $33.15, because everyday prices have climbed about 3215% in the 111 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.03 bought in 1915.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1915: about 3215%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.2% per year.
- Time span: 111 years (1915 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1915 worth today?
$1 in 1915 has the same buying power as about $33.15 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 3215% since then (an average of about 3.2% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1915?
Cumulative inflation from 1915 to May 2026 is about 3215%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1915 costs about $3,315 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.