Inflation & buying power
What is 1937 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1937 has the same buying power as about $23.30 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1937 is about 2230%, or roughly 3.6% per year over 89 years.
What 1937 money is worth today
| In 1937 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $233.00 |
| $100.00 | $2,330 |
| $1,000 | $23,300 |
| $10,000 | $232,999 |
| $100,000 | $2,329,994 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1937 dollar is worth about $23.30 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1937 — during the Great Depression — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $23.30, because everyday prices have climbed about 2230% in the 89 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.04 bought in 1937.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1937: about 2230%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.6% per year.
- Time span: 89 years (1937 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1937 worth today?
$1 in 1937 has the same buying power as about $23.30 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 2230% since then (an average of about 3.6% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1937?
Cumulative inflation from 1937 to May 2026 is about 2230%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1937 costs about $2,330 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.