$5 in 1932 is worth $122.26 today

$5 in 1932 has the same buying power as

$122.26 in August 2026

That is 2,345% more, an average inflation rate of 3.45% a year over 94 years.

Put the other way, $5 today buys what $0.20 bought in 1932. Cash kept under the mattress since 1932 has lost 96% of its value.

$5 from nearby years

$5 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1927$96.26-1.7%
1928$97.95-1.7%
1929$97.950.0%
1930$100.29-2.3%
1931$110.19-9.0%
1932$122.26-9.9%
1933$128.84-5.1%
1934$124.993.1%
1935$122.262.2%
1936$120.501.5%
1937$116.313.6%

How $5 from 1932 grew

$0.00$20$40$60$80$100$120$140194019601980200020202026.625: $122
$5 from 1932 in each later year's dollars

$5 of 1932 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5 spent on each of these in 1932 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$163.75
Rent$84.72
Electricity$42.71
Clothing$35.06

Try a different amount or date

$5.00 in 1932 has the same buying power as

$122.26 in August 2026

Prices rose 2,345.1% in total, an average of 3.45% a year.

Questions

How much is $5 in 1932 worth today?
$5 in 1932 is worth $122.26 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $5 in 1932?
You would need $122.26 to buy what $5 bought in 1932. That is 24.45 times as much.
How much buying power has $5 lost since 1932?
Kept as cash, $5 from 1932 buys only what $0.20 of 1932 money bought. It has lost 96% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1932?
Prices rose -9.9% in 1932. Since then the average has been 3.45% a year.

Other amounts from 1932

$5 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1932