Canada Inflation Calculator
Canadian Inflation Rate, CA$100 in 1920 to 1981
According to Statistics Canada consumer price index, the dollar experienced an average inflation rate of 2.54% per year. Prices in 1981 are 362.50% higher than prices in 1920.
In other words, CA$100 in 1920 is equivalent in purchasing power to CA$462.50 in 1981, a difference of CA$362.50 over 61 years.
The inflation rate in 1981 was 12.12%.
| Cumulative price change | 362.50% |
| Average inflation rate | 2.54% |
| Converted amount (CA$100 base) | CA$462.50 |
| Price difference (CA$100 base) | CA$362.50 |
| CPI in 1920 | 11.2 |
| CPI in 1981 | 51.8 |
How to calculate the inflation rate for CA$100, 1920 to 1981
This inflation calculator uses the following inflation rate formula:
CPI in 1981 / CPI in 1920 * 1920 CAD value = 1981 CAD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The Canadian CPI was 11.2 in the year 1920 and 51.8 in 1981:
51.8 / 11.2 * CA$100 = CA$462.50
CA$100 in 1920 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as CA$462.50 in 1981.
Buying power of CA$100 since 1920
This chart shows calculations of buying power equivalence over time for CA$100 in 1920 (price index tracking began in 1914).
According to Statistics Canada, each of these CAD amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | CAD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1920 | CA$100.00 | 9.80% |
| 1921 | CA$83.93 | -16.07% |
| 1922 | CA$82.14 | -2.13% |
| 1923 | CA$82.14 | 0.00% |
| 1924 | CA$81.25 | -1.09% |
| 1925 | CA$83.04 | 2.20% |
| 1926 | CA$82.14 | -1.08% |
| 1927 | CA$81.25 | -1.09% |
| 1928 | CA$82.14 | 1.10% |
| 1929 | CA$83.93 | 2.17% |
| 1930 | CA$78.57 | -6.38% |
| 1931 | CA$70.54 | -10.23% |
| 1932 | CA$65.18 | -7.59% |
| 1933 | CA$63.39 | -2.74% |
| 1934 | CA$64.29 | 1.41% |
| 1935 | CA$66.07 | 2.78% |
| 1936 | CA$66.96 | 1.35% |
| 1937 | CA$69.64 | 4.00% |
| 1938 | CA$67.86 | -2.56% |
| 1939 | CA$69.64 | 2.63% |
| 1940 | CA$73.21 | 5.13% |
| 1941 | CA$77.68 | 6.10% |
| 1942 | CA$80.36 | 3.45% |
| 1943 | CA$82.14 | 2.22% |
| 1944 | CA$80.36 | -2.17% |
| 1945 | CA$82.14 | 2.22% |
| 1946 | CA$86.61 | 5.43% |
| 1947 | CA$99.11 | 14.43% |
| 1948 | CA$108.04 | 9.01% |
| 1949 | CA$108.93 | 0.83% |
| 1950 | CA$115.18 | 5.74% |
| 1951 | CA$127.68 | 10.85% |
| 1952 | CA$125.89 | -1.40% |
| 1953 | CA$125.89 | 0.00% |
| 1954 | CA$125.89 | 0.00% |
| 1955 | CA$126.79 | 0.71% |
| 1956 | CA$130.36 | 2.82% |
| 1957 | CA$133.04 | 2.05% |
| 1958 | CA$136.61 | 2.68% |
| 1959 | CA$138.39 | 1.31% |
| 1960 | CA$140.18 | 1.29% |
| 1961 | CA$140.18 | 0.00% |
| 1962 | CA$142.86 | 1.91% |
| 1963 | CA$145.54 | 1.88% |
| 1964 | CA$148.21 | 1.84% |
| 1965 | CA$152.68 | 3.01% |
| 1966 | CA$158.04 | 3.51% |
| 1967 | CA$164.29 | 3.95% |
| 1968 | CA$171.43 | 4.35% |
| 1969 | CA$179.46 | 4.69% |
| 1970 | CA$181.25 | 1.00% |
| 1971 | CA$190.18 | 4.93% |
| 1972 | CA$200.00 | 5.16% |
| 1973 | CA$218.75 | 9.38% |
| 1974 | CA$246.43 | 12.65% |
| 1975 | CA$269.64 | 9.42% |
| 1976 | CA$284.82 | 5.63% |
| 1977 | CA$311.61 | 9.40% |
| 1978 | CA$338.39 | 8.60% |
| 1979 | CA$371.43 | 9.76% |
| 1980 | CA$412.50 | 11.06% |
| 1981 | CA$462.50 | 12.12%* |
News headlines from 1920
Politics and news often influence economic performance. Here's what was happening at the time:
- The League of Nations' first assembly takes place in Paris.
- The British Parliament passes the Fourth Home Rule Act, dividing Ireland into two parts and leading to a yearlong Anglo-Irish war in the southern counties.
- The Catholic Church canonizes Joan of Arc, formally making her a saint.
- The 19th Amendment to the constitution is ratified, granting U.S. woman suffrage for the first time.
Data Source & Citation
Raw data for these calculations comes from the government of Canada's annual Consumer Price Index (CPI), established in 1914 and computed by Statistics Canada (StatCan).
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “1920 dollars in 1981 | Canada Inflation Calculator.” U.S. Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 19 Jul. 2018, https://www.officialdata.org/1920-CAD-in-1981.
in2013dollars.com is a reference website maintained by the Official Data Foundation.