Value of $100 from 1808 to 1809
$100 in 1808 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $97.62 in 1809. The dollar had an average deflation rate of -2.38% per year since 1808, producing a cumulative price change of -2.38%.
This means that prices in 1809 are 2.38% lower than average prices since 1808, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.
The inflation rate in 1808 was 8.62%. The inflation rate in 1809 was -2.38%. The 1809 inflation rate is lower compared to the average inflation rate of 1.53% per year between 1809 and 2025.
Contents
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| Average inflation rate | -2.38% |
| Converted amount $100 base | $97.62 |
| Price difference $100 base | $-2.38 |
| CPI in 1808 | 12.600 |
| CPI in 1809 | 12.300 |
| Inflation in 1808 | 8.62% |
| Inflation in 1809 | -2.38% |
| $100 in 1808 | $97.62 in 1809 |
Inflation by Country
Inflation can also vary widely by country. For comparison, in the UK £100.00 in 1808 would be equivalent to £109.38 in 1809, an absolute change of £9.38 and a cumulative change of 9.38%.
Compare these numbers to the US's overall absolute change of $-2.38 and total percent change of -2.38%.
Inflation by Spending Category
CPI is the weighted combination of many categories of spending that are tracked by the government. Breaking down these categories helps explain the main drivers behind price changes.
This chart shows the average rate of inflation for select CPI categories between 1808 and 1809.
Compare these values to the overall average of -2.38% per year:
| Category | Avg Inflation (%) | Total Inflation (%) | $100 in 1808 → 1809 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food and beverages | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Housing | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Apparel | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Transportation | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Medical care | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Recreation | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Education and communication | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
| Other goods and services | 0.00 | 0.00 | 100.00 |
For all these visualizations, it's important to note that not all categories may have been tracked since 1808. This table and charts use the earliest available data for each category.
How to calculate inflation rate for $100, 1808 to 1809
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1808 and 1809:
CPI in 1809 CPI in 1808
×
1808 USD value
=
1809 USD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The U.S. CPI was 12.6 in the year 1808 and 12.3 in 1809:
12.312.6
×
$100
=
$97.62
$100 in 1808 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $97.62 in 1809.
To get the total inflation rate for the 1 years between 1808 and 1809, we use the following formula:
CPI in 1809 - CPI in 1808CPI in 1808
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (1 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
12.3 - 12.612.6
×
100
=
-2%
Data source & citation
Raw data for these calculations comes from the Bureau of Labor Statistics' Consumer Price Index (CPI), established in 1913. Price index data from 1774 to 1912 is sourced from a historical study conducted by political science professor Robert Sahr at Oregon State University and from the American Antiquarian Society. Price index data from 1634 to 1773 is from the American Antiquarian Society, using British pound equivalents.
You may use the following MLA citation for this page: “1808 dollars in 1809 | Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 14 Dec. 2025, https://www.officialdata.org/1808-dollars-in-1809.
Special thanks to QuickChart for their chart image API, which is used for chart downloads.
| Average inflation rate | -2.38% |
| Converted amount $100 base | $97.62 |
| Price difference $100 base | $-2.38 |
| CPI in 1808 | 12.600 |
| CPI in 1809 | 12.300 |
| Inflation in 1808 | 8.62% |
| Inflation in 1809 | -2.38% |
| $100 in 1808 | $97.62 in 1809 |