$1,000 in 1937 is worth $23,262.50 today

$1,000 in 1937 has the same buying power as

$23,262.50 in August 2026

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

Put the other way, $1,000 today buys what $42.99 bought in 1937. Cash kept under the mattress since 1937 has lost 96% of its value.

$1,000 from nearby years

$1,000 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1932$24,451.09-9.9%
1933$25,767.69-5.1%
1934$24,998.513.1%
1935$24,451.092.2%
1936$24,099.281.5%
1937$23,262.503.6%
1938$23,757.45-2.1%
1939$24,099.28-1.4%
1940$23,927.140.7%
1941$22,787.765.0%
1942$20,550.9210.9%

How $1,000 from 1937 grew

$0.00$5000$10K$15K$20K$25K1940195019601970198019902000201020202026.625: $23K
$1,000 from 1937 in each later year's dollars

$1,000 of 1937 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1,000 spent on each of these in 1937 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$26,749.47
Rent$19,606.86
Gasoline$25,333.66
Medical care$57,573.11
New cars$8,640.14
Electricity$10,369.80
Clothing$6,216.00

Try a different amount or date

$1,000.00 in 1937 has the same buying power as

$23,262.50 in August 2026

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

Questions

How much is $1,000 in 1937 worth today?
$1,000 in 1937 is worth $23,262.50 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $1,000 in 1937?
You would need $23,262.50 to buy what $1,000 bought in 1937. That is 23.26 times as much.
How much buying power has $1,000 lost since 1937?
Kept as cash, $1,000 from 1937 buys only what $42.99 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

$1,000 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1937