Dave,

Off hand I am not aware if there is anything or something like a "converter" of your $100 in 1935 into year 2001 or today.

There are several problems that must be considered here. If you are just holding the $100.00 in your drawer it must have lost its value because the purchasing power of the money in 1935 was 100 percent it was worth $100. Factor in the inflationary effects of the year to year that the "price increases" at least say 10 percent your 1935 money is worth less.The "consumer price index" and the "producer price index" for the consumer and producer respectively. However if you invested that money in the bank or securities that will be another story.

The "purchasing power of money" in layman's parlance is "the amount of goods and services" that the 1935 money could buy. For example if you buy labor services for a builder the economist would use the prevailing wages and fees in 1935 as a guide to "guesstimate" the true value of the 1935 $$$.

I am trying so hard to explain but if you seems more confuse then consider it as a "collateral" effect.

Leonidas