Value of $1 from 1790 to 1806
$1 in 1790 is equivalent in purchasing power to about $1.33 in 1806, an increase of $0.33 over 16 years. The dollar had an average inflation rate of 1.78% per year between 1790 and 1806, producing a cumulative price increase of 32.61%.
This means that prices in 1806 are 1.33 times as high as average prices since 1790, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics consumer price index.
The inflation rate in 1790 was 4.55%. The inflation rate in 1806 was 4.27%. The 1806 inflation rate is higher compared to the average inflation rate of 1.50% per year between 1806 and 2024.
Contents
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| Cumulative price change | 32.61% |
| Average inflation rate | 1.78% |
| Converted amount $1 base | $1.33 |
| Price difference $1 base | $0.33 |
| CPI in 1790 | 9.200 |
| CPI in 1806 | 12.200 |
| Inflation in 1790 | 4.55% |
| Inflation in 1806 | 4.27% |
| $1 in 1790 | $1.33 in 1806 |
Buying power of $1 in 1790
This chart shows a calculation of buying power equivalence for $1 in 1790 (price index tracking began in 1635).
For example, if you started with $1, you would need to end with $1.33 in order to "adjust" for inflation (sometimes refered to as "beating inflation").
When $1 is equivalent to $1.33 over time, that means that the "real value" of a single U.S. dollar decreases over time. In other words, a dollar will pay for fewer items at the store.
This effect explains how inflation erodes the value of a dollar over time. By calculating the value in 1790 dollars, the chart below shows how $1 is worth less over 16 years.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, each of these USD amounts below is equal in terms of what it could buy at the time:
This conversion table shows various other 1790 amounts in 1806 dollars, based on the 32.61% change in prices:
| Initial value | Equivalent value |
|---|---|
| $1 dollar in 1790 | $1.33 dollars in 1806 |
| $5 dollars in 1790 | $6.63 dollars in 1806 |
| $10 dollars in 1790 | $13.26 dollars in 1806 |
| $50 dollars in 1790 | $66.30 dollars in 1806 |
| $100 dollars in 1790 | $132.61 dollars in 1806 |
| $500 dollars in 1790 | $663.04 dollars in 1806 |
| $1,000 dollars in 1790 | $1,326.09 dollars in 1806 |
| $5,000 dollars in 1790 | $6,630.43 dollars in 1806 |
| $10,000 dollars in 1790 | $13,260.87 dollars in 1806 |
| $50,000 dollars in 1790 | $66,304.35 dollars in 1806 |
| $100,000 dollars in 1790 | $132,608.70 dollars in 1806 |
| $500,000 dollars in 1790 | $663,043.48 dollars in 1806 |
| $1,000,000 dollars in 1790 | $1,326,086.96 dollars in 1806 |
Inflation by Country
Inflation can also vary widely by country. For comparison, in the UK £1.00 in 1790 would be equivalent to £1.68 in 1806, an absolute change of £0.68 and a cumulative change of 68.00%.
Compare these numbers to the US's overall absolute change of $0.33 and total percent change of 32.61%.
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 1790 and 1806.
Compare these values to the overall average of 1.78% per year:
| Category | Avg Inflation (%) | Total Inflation (%) | $1 in 1790 → 1806 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food and beverages | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Housing | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Apparel | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Transportation | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Medical care | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Recreation | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Education and communication | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
| Other goods and services | 0.00 | 0.00 | 1.00 |
The graph below compares inflation in categories of goods over time. Click on a category such as "Food" to toggle it on or off:
For all these visualizations, it's important to note that not all categories may have been tracked since 1790. This table and charts use the earliest available data for each category.
How to calculate inflation rate for $1, 1790 to 1806
Our calculations use the following inflation rate formula to calculate the change in value between 1790 and 1806:
CPI in 1806 CPI in 1790
×
1790 USD value
=
1806 USD value
Then plug in historical CPI values. The U.S. CPI was 9.2 in the year 1790 and 12.2 in 1806:
12.29.2
×
$1
=
$1.33
$1 in 1790 has the same "purchasing power" or "buying power" as $1.33 in 1806.
To get the total inflation rate for the 16 years between 1790 and 1806, we use the following formula:
CPI in 1806 - CPI in 1790CPI in 1790
×
100
=
Cumulative inflation rate (16 years)
Plugging in the values to this equation, we get:
12.2 - 9.29.2
×
100
=
33%
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: “$1 in 1790 → 1806 | Inflation Calculator.” Official Inflation Data, Alioth Finance, 19 Apr. 2024, https://www.officialdata.org/us/inflation/1790?amount=1&endYear=1806.
Special thanks to QuickChart for their chart image API, which is used for chart downloads.
| Cumulative price change | 32.61% |
| Average inflation rate | 1.78% |
| Converted amount $1 base | $1.33 |
| Price difference $1 base | $0.33 |
| CPI in 1790 | 9.200 |
| CPI in 1806 | 12.200 |
| Inflation in 1790 | 4.55% |
| Inflation in 1806 | 4.27% |
| $1 in 1790 | $1.33 in 1806 |