Value of $1 from 1920 to 1943
$1 in 1920 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $0.80 in 1943, a difference of $-0.20 over 23 years. The dollar had an average deflation rate of -0.99% per year since 1920, producing a cumulative price change of -20.47%.
This means that prices in 1943 are 20.47% lower than average prices since 1920, according to Statistics Canada consumer price index.
The inflation rate in 1920 was 16.30%. The inflation rate in 1943 was 2.17%. The 1943 inflation rate is lower compared to the average inflation rate of 3.58% per year between 1943 and 2025.
⌃
| Cumulative price change | -20.47% |
| Average inflation rate | -0.99% |
| Converted amount $1 base | $0.80 |
| Price difference $1 base | $-0.20 |
| CPI in 1920 | 11.358 |
| CPI in 1943 | 9.033 |
| Inflation in 1920 | 16.30% |
| Inflation in 1943 | 2.17% |
| $1 in 1920 | $0.80 in 1943 |
Buying power of $1 in 1920
This chart shows a calculation of buying power equivalence for $1 in 1920 (price index tracking began in 1914).
For example, if you started with $1, you would need to end with $0.80 in order to "adjust" for inflation (sometimes refered to as "beating inflation").
According to Statistics Canada, each of these CAD amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
This conversion table shows various other 1920 amounts in 1943 dollars, based on the -20.47% change in prices:
| Initial value | Equivalent value |
|---|---|
| $1 dollar in 1920 | $0.80 dollars in 1943 |
| $5 dollars in 1920 | $3.98 dollars in 1943 |
| $10 dollars in 1920 | $7.95 dollars in 1943 |
| $50 dollars in 1920 | $39.77 dollars in 1943 |
| $100 dollars in 1920 | $79.53 dollars in 1943 |
| $500 dollars in 1920 | $397.65 dollars in 1943 |
| $1,000 dollars in 1920 | $795.30 dollars in 1943 |
| $5,000 dollars in 1920 | $3,976.52 dollars in 1943 |
| $10,000 dollars in 1920 | $7,953.04 dollars in 1943 |
| $50,000 dollars in 1920 | $39,765.22 dollars in 1943 |
| $100,000 dollars in 1920 | $79,530.45 dollars in 1943 |
| $500,000 dollars in 1920 | $397,652.24 dollars in 1943 |
| $1,000,000 dollars in 1920 | $795,304.48 dollars in 1943 |
How to calculate inflation rate for $1, 1920 to 1943
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1920 and 1943:
CPI in 1943 CPI in 1920
×
1920 CAD value
=
1943 CAD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The Canadian CPI was 11.35833333 in the year 1920 and 9.033333333 in 1943:
9.03333333311.35833333
×
$1
=
$0.80
$1 in 1920 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $0.80 in 1943.
To get the total inflation rate for the 23 years between 1920 and 1943, we use the following formula:
CPI in 1943 - CPI in 1920CPI in 1920
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (23 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
9.033333333 - 11.3583333311.35833333
×
100
=
-20%
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: “$1 in 1920 → 1943 | Canada Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 14 Dec. 2025, https://www.officialdata.org/canada/inflation/1920?amount=1&endYear=1943.
Special thanks to QuickChart for their chart image API, which is used for chart downloads.
| Cumulative price change | -20.47% |
| Average inflation rate | -0.99% |
| Converted amount $1 base | $0.80 |
| Price difference $1 base | $-0.20 |
| CPI in 1920 | 11.358 |
| CPI in 1943 | 9.033 |
| Inflation in 1920 | 16.30% |
| Inflation in 1943 | 2.17% |
| $1 in 1920 | $0.80 in 1943 |