Value of $1 from 1870 to 1900
$1 in 1870 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $0.64 in 1900, a difference of $-0.36 over 30 years. The dollar had an average deflation rate of -1.47% per year since 1870, producing a cumulative price change of -35.88%.
This means that prices in 1900 are 35.88% lower than average prices since 1870, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.
The inflation rate in 1870 was -3.68%. The inflation rate in 1900 was 1.20%. The 1900 inflation rate is lower compared to the average inflation rate of 2.97% per year between 1900 and 2024.
Contents
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| Cumulative price change | -35.88% |
| Average inflation rate | -1.47% |
| Converted amount $1 base | $0.64 |
| Price difference $1 base | $-0.36 |
| CPI in 1870 | 13.100 |
| CPI in 1900 | 8.400 |
| Inflation in 1870 | -3.68% |
| Inflation in 1900 | 1.20% |
| $1 in 1870 | $0.64 in 1900 |
Buying power of $1 in 1870
This chart shows a calculation of buying power equivalence for $1 in 1870 (price index tracking began in 1635).
For example, if you started with $1, you would need to end with $0.64 in order to "adjust" for inflation (sometimes refered to as "beating inflation").
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, each of these USD amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
This conversion table shows various other 1870 amounts in 1900 dollars, based on the -35.88% change in prices:
| Initial value | Equivalent value |
|---|---|
| $1 dollar in 1870 | $0.64 dollars in 1900 |
| $5 dollars in 1870 | $3.21 dollars in 1900 |
| $10 dollars in 1870 | $6.41 dollars in 1900 |
| $50 dollars in 1870 | $32.06 dollars in 1900 |
| $100 dollars in 1870 | $64.12 dollars in 1900 |
| $500 dollars in 1870 | $320.61 dollars in 1900 |
| $1,000 dollars in 1870 | $641.22 dollars in 1900 |
| $5,000 dollars in 1870 | $3,206.11 dollars in 1900 |
| $10,000 dollars in 1870 | $6,412.21 dollars in 1900 |
| $50,000 dollars in 1870 | $32,061.07 dollars in 1900 |
| $100,000 dollars in 1870 | $64,122.14 dollars in 1900 |
| $500,000 dollars in 1870 | $320,610.69 dollars in 1900 |
| $1,000,000 dollars in 1870 | $641,221.37 dollars in 1900 |
Inflation by Country
Inflation can also vary widely by country. For comparison, in the UK £1.00 in 1870 would be equivalent to £0.97 in 1900, an absolute change of £-0.03 and a cumulative change of -3.16%.
Compare these numbers to the US's overall absolute change of $-0.36 and total percent change of -35.88%.
Inflation by Spending Category
CPI is the weighted combination of many categories of spending that are tracked by the government. Breaking down these categories helps explain the main drivers behind price changes.
This chart shows the average rate of inflation for select CPI categories between 1870 and 1900.
Compare these values to the overall average of -1.47% per year:
| Category | Avg Inflation (%) | Total Inflation (%) | $1 in 1870 → 1900 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food and beverages | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Housing | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Apparel | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Transportation | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Medical care | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Recreation | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Education and communication | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Other goods and services | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
The graph below compares inflation in categories of goods over time. Click on a category such as "Food" to toggle it on or off:
For all these visualizations, it's important to note that not all categories may have been tracked since 1870. This table and charts use the earliest available data for each category.
How to calculate inflation rate for $1, 1870 to 1900
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1870 and 1900:
CPI in 1900 CPI in 1870
×
1870 USD value
=
1900 USD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The U.S. CPI was 13.1 in the year 1870 and 8.4 in 1900:
8.413.1
×
$1
=
$0.64
$1 in 1870 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $0.64 in 1900.
To get the total inflation rate for the 30 years between 1870 and 1900, we use the following formula:
CPI in 1900 - CPI in 1870CPI in 1870
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (30 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
8.4 - 13.113.1
×
100
=
-36%
Data source & citation
Raw data for these calculations comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI), established in 1913. Price index data from 1774 to 1912 is sourced from a historical study conducted by political science professor Robert Sahr at Oregon State University and from the American Antiquarian Society. Price index data from 1634 to 1773 is from the American Antiquarian Society, using British pound equivalents.
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “$1 in 1870 → 1900 | Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 25 Nov. 2024, https://www.officialdata.org/us/inflation/1870?amount=1&endYear=1900.
Special thanks to QuickChart for their chart image API, which is used for chart downloads.
in2013dollars.com is a reference website maintained by the Official Data Foundation.
| Cumulative price change | -35.88% |
| Average inflation rate | -1.47% |
| Converted amount $1 base | $0.64 |
| Price difference $1 base | $-0.36 |
| CPI in 1870 | 13.100 |
| CPI in 1900 | 8.400 |
| Inflation in 1870 | -3.68% |
| Inflation in 1900 | 1.20% |
| $1 in 1870 | $0.64 in 1900 |