$1 in 1937 is worth $23.26 today

$1 in 1937 has the same buying power as

$23.26 in August 2026

That is 2,226% more, an average inflation rate of 3.59% a year over 89 years.

Put the other way, $1 today buys what $0.04 bought in 1937. Cash kept under the mattress since 1937 has lost 96% of its value.

$1 from nearby years

$1 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1932$24.45-9.9%
1933$25.77-5.1%
1934$25.003.1%
1935$24.452.2%
1936$24.101.5%
1937$23.263.6%
1938$23.76-2.1%
1939$24.10-1.4%
1940$23.930.7%
1941$22.795.0%
1942$20.5510.9%

How $1 from 1937 grew

$0.00$5.00$10$15$20$251940195019601970198019902000201020202026.625: $23
$1 from 1937 in each later year's dollars

$1 of 1937 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1 spent on each of these in 1937 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$26.75
Rent$19.61
Gasoline$25.33
Medical care$57.57
New cars$8.64
Electricity$10.37
Clothing$6.22

Try a different amount or date

$1.00 in 1937 has the same buying power as

$23.26 in August 2026

Prices rose 2,226.3% in total, an average of 3.59% a year.

Questions

How much is $1 in 1937 worth today?
$1 in 1937 is worth $23.26 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $1 in 1937?
You would need $23.26 to buy what $1 bought in 1937. That is 23.26 times as much.
How much buying power has $1 lost since 1937?
Kept as cash, $1 from 1937 buys only what $0.04 of 1937 money bought. It has lost 96% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1937?
Prices rose 3.6% in 1937. Since then the average has been 3.59% a year.

Other amounts from 1937

$1 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1937