In historical contexts, the second half of the 20th century in the United States was unique because of how little deflation actually occurred. In fact, the dramatic and consistent price increases from 1950 to 2000 was unparalleled since the founding of the country. U.S. consumers saw dropping prices between 1817 and 1860 and again from 1865 to 1900. The most dramatic deflation in U.S. history took place between 1930 and 1933.
Money Prices in the 19th Century
The U.S. did not have a single national currency until after the Civil War, but economists can still track consumer prices in terms of the exchange value of gold. In 1991, economist John J. McCusker published a historical price index of money values in the U.S. He found that the price level was actually 50% higher in 1800 than it was in 1900.
Prices rose during the War of 1812 before falling again around 1815-1817. Buoyed by the rise of industrial machinery, prices dropped and output grew consistently until the start of the Civil War. The U.S. government printed and borrowed heavily during the war but ceased once peace resumed.
The period between 1873 and 1879 saw prices drop at nearly 3% per year, yet real national product growth was almost 7% during the same time. Despite the demonstrated economic growth and rising real wages, historians have taken to calling this period “The Long Depression” because of its dropping price level.
The Fed, the Great Depression and Inflation
When the Federal Reserve was established in 1913, the price level in the U.S. was still lower than it was in 1800. Over the next 100 years, the dollar lost 96% of its value, causing nominal prices to rise nearly 2,000%.
Despite this, the most dramatic period of deflation in U.S. history took place at the outset of the Great Depression. Prices dropped an average of 10% from 1930-1933. Unlike the productivity driven deflation of the 19th century, this deflation resulted from a collapsing banking sector and its accompanying bank runs.