Inflation in 1940 and its effect on dollar value
$1 in 1939 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $1.04 in 1940. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 4.25% per year between 1939 and 1940, producing a cumulative price increase of 4.25%. Purchasing power decreased by 4.25% in 1940 compared to 1939. On average, you would have to spend 4.25% more money in 1940 than in 1939 for the same item.
This means that prices in 1940 are 1.04 times as high as average prices since 1939, according to Statistics Canada consumer price index.
The inflation rate in 1939 was -0.76%. The inflation rate in 1940 was 4.25%. The 1940 inflation rate is higher compared to the average inflation rate of 3.63% per year between 1940 and 2024.
Inflation rate is calculated by change in the consumer price index (CPI). The CPI in 1940 was 7.98. It was 7.65 in the previous year, 1939. The difference in CPI between the years is used by Statistics Canada to officially determine inflation.
⌃
| Average inflation rate | 4.25% |
| Converted amount $1 base | $1.04 |
| Price difference $1 base | $0.04 |
| CPI in 1939 | 7.650 |
| CPI in 1940 | 7.975 |
| Inflation in 1939 | -0.76% |
| Inflation in 1940 | 4.25% |
| $1 in 1939 | $1.04 in 1940 |
How to calculate inflation rate for $1, 1939 to 1940
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1939 and 1940:
CPI in 1940 CPI in 1939
×
1939 CAD value
=
1940 CAD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The Canadian CPI was 7.65 in the year 1939 and 7.975 in 1940:
7.9757.65
×
$1
=
$1.04
$1 in 1939 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $1.04 in 1940.
To get the total inflation rate for the 1 years between 1939 and 1940, we use the following formula:
CPI in 1940 - CPI in 1939CPI in 1939
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (1 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
7.975 - 7.657.65
×
100
=
4%
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 1940 | Canada Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 13 Dec. 2024, https://www.officialdata.org/CAD-inflation-rate-in-1940.
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 | 4.25% |
| Converted amount $1 base | $1.04 |
| Price difference $1 base | $0.04 |
| CPI in 1939 | 7.650 |
| CPI in 1940 | 7.975 |
| Inflation in 1939 | -0.76% |
| Inflation in 1940 | 4.25% |
| $1 in 1939 | $1.04 in 1940 |