According to the Bureau of Statistics consumer price index, prices in 2004 are 3,007.69% higher than average prices throughout 1938. The dollar experienced an average inflation rate of 5.34% per year during this period, meaning the real value of a dollar decreased.
In other words, $100 in 1938 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $3,107.69 in 2004, a difference of $3,007.69 over 66 years.
The 1938 inflation rate was 4.00%. The inflation rate in 2004 was 2.28%. The 2004 inflation rate is lower compared to the average inflation rate of 2.37% per year between 2004 and 2019.
Cumulative price change | 3,007.69% |
Average inflation rate | 5.34% |
Converted amount ($100 base) | $3,107.69 |
Price difference ($100 base) | $3,007.69 |
CPI in 1938 | 2.600 |
CPI in 2004 | 80.800 |
Inflation in 1938 | 4.00% |
Inflation in 2004 | 2.28% |
This chart shows calculation of buying power equivalence, often referred to as "the value of a dollar" over time for $100 in 1938 (price index tracking began in 1922).
According to the Bureau of Statistics, each of these AUD amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
This inflation calculator uses the following inflation rate formula:
Then plug in historical CPI values. The Australian CPI was 2.6 in the year 1938 and 80.8 in 2004:
$100 in 1938 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $3,107.69 in 2004.
To get the total inflation rate for the 66 years between 1938 and 2004, we use the following formula:
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
Politics and news often influence economic performance. Here's what was happening at the time:
Raw data for these calculations comes from the government of Australia's annual (CPI) as provided by the Reserve Bank of Australia. The consumer price index was established in 1922 and is tracked by Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “1938 dollars in 2004 | Australia Inflation Calculator.” U.S. Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 10 Dec. 2019, https://www.officialdata.org/1938-AUD-in-2004.
Special thanks to QuickChart for providing downloadable chart images.
in2013dollars.com is a reference website maintained by the Official Data Foundation.
Cumulative price change | 3,007.69% |
Average inflation rate | 5.34% |
Converted amount ($100 base) | $3,107.69 |
Price difference ($100 base) | $3,007.69 |
CPI in 1938 | 2.600 |
CPI in 2004 | 80.800 |
Inflation in 1938 | 4.00% |
Inflation in 2004 | 2.28% |