Inflation in 1939 and its effect on dollar value
$1 in 1938 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $0.99 in 1939. The dollar had an average deflation rate of -0.76% per year since 1938, producing a cumulative price change of -0.76%. Purchasing power increased by 0.76% in 1939 compared to 1938. On average, you would have to spend 0.76% less money in 1939 than in 1938 for the same item. This is an example of deflation.
This means that prices in 1939 are 0.76% lower than average prices since 1938, according to Statistics Canada consumer price index.
The inflation rate in 1938 was 0.54%. The inflation rate in 1939 was -0.76%. The 1939 inflation rate is lower compared to the average inflation rate of 3.63% per year between 1939 and 2024.
Inflation rate is calculated by change in the consumer price index (CPI). The CPI in 1939 was 7.65. It was 7.71 in the previous year, 1938. The difference in CPI between the years is used by Statistics Canada to officially determine inflation. Because the 1939 CPI is less than 1938 CPI, negative inflation (also known as deflation) has occurred.
⌃
| Average inflation rate | -0.76% |
| Converted amount $1 base | $0.99 |
| Price difference $1 base | $-0.01 |
| CPI in 1938 | 7.708 |
| CPI in 1939 | 7.650 |
| Inflation in 1938 | 0.54% |
| Inflation in 1939 | -0.76% |
| $1 in 1938 | $0.99 in 1939 |
How to calculate inflation rate for $1, 1938 to 1939
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1938 and 1939:
CPI in 1939 CPI in 1938
×
1938 CAD value
=
1939 CAD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The Canadian CPI was 7.708333333 in the year 1938 and 7.65 in 1939:
7.657.708333333
×
$1
=
$0.99
$1 in 1938 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $0.99 in 1939.
To get the total inflation rate for the 1 years between 1938 and 1939, we use the following formula:
CPI in 1939 - CPI in 1938CPI in 1938
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (1 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
7.65 - 7.7083333337.708333333
×
100
=
-1%
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: “Inflation Rate in 1939 | Canada Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 25 Apr. 2024, https://www.officialdata.org/CAD-inflation-rate-in-1939.
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.
| Average inflation rate | -0.76% |
| Converted amount $1 base | $0.99 |
| Price difference $1 base | $-0.01 |
| CPI in 1938 | 7.708 |
| CPI in 1939 | 7.650 |
| Inflation in 1938 | 0.54% |
| Inflation in 1939 | -0.76% |
| $1 in 1938 | $0.99 in 1939 |