How much would $50,000 in 1871 equal today?

Question

Are there any websites or places where I could figure out how much an amount of money back then would be in today's money?

Answer 1

Here it is for 2005

In 2005, $50,000.00 from 1871 is worth:
$824,746.62 using the Consumer Price Index
$773,251.03 using the GDP deflator
$5,535,211.27 using the unskilled wage
$11,215,256.11 using the nominal GDP per capita
$81,092,447.92 using the relative share of GDP

Answer 2

Based on an average inflation rate of 2 1/2 % per year for 136 years, $50,000 would be worth $1,436,864.11

3 1/2 % per year average inflation for 136 years, compounded yearly, would be $5,380,932.90

5 % per year average inflation for 136 years, compounded yearly, would be $38,081,555.35

I hope you see the picture here, that is, compound interest, the eighth wonder of the world.

On an inflation adjusted basis, the cumulative ending wealth for any of the series can be calculated as;


CWI, ia = CWI divided by CI,inf

CWI,ia = the cumulative wealth index value for any asset on an inflation-adjusted basis

CWI = the cumulative wealth index value for any asset on a nominal basis

CI,inf = the ending index value for inflation, calculated as ( 1 + geometric rate of inflation)n, where n is the number of periods considered. In this case 136 years.

Use a calculator, it's a lot easier.

Answer 3

Here is a "Cost of Living Calculator" --- but it only goes back to 1913.