US Inflation Hit 8% Last Year, Well Below Historical Peaks Like 1917's 17.84% During World War I
• The highest inflation rate in US history was 17.84% in 1917 during World War I • Inflation reached over 15% during several years around World War I (1918-1920) • The inflation rate hit 14.39% in 1947 after World War II ended • The early 1930s during the Great Depression saw deflation with rates below -5% • Last year's 8% inflation was the highest since the 1980s but below historical peaks