When did prices double after 1917?
By February 1951, prices were twice their 1917 average (CPI-U 12.8 → 25.6), 34 years later. They had tripled by April 1970.
What $1 from 1917 is worth today
$1 in 1917 = $26.27 in September 2026
$1 from 1917$26.27in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1917+2527%CPI 12.8 → 336.9
Average a year3.04%compounded since 1917
Inflation in 191718.1%December to December
Worth in September 2026$2,627.21
Prices changed2527.2%
Average a year3.04%
$100.00 in 1917 buys what $2,627.21 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 12.825 · a whole year uses its average CPI
BLS CPI-U, U.S. city average, not seasonally adjusted, through September 2026 (3.7% over 12 months). Source
1917 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1917 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $26.27 |
| $5.00 | $131.36 |
| $10.00 | $262.72 |
| $20.00 | $525.44 |
| $50.00 | $1,314 |
| $100.00 | $2,627 |
| $500.00 | $13,136 |
| $1,000 | $26,272 |
| $10,000 | $262,721 |
| $50,000 | $1,313,606 |
| $100,000 | $2,627,212 |
$100 from 1917, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1927 | $135.35 | 17.4 |
| 1937 | $112.15 | 14.4 |
| 1947 | $174.07 | 22.3 |
| 1957 | $219.04 | 28.1 |
| 1967 | $260.10 | 33.4 |
| 1977 | $472.58 | 60.6 |
| 1987 | $885.96 | 113.6 |
| 1997 | $1,252 | 160.5 |
| 2007 | $1,617 | 207.3 |
| 2017 | $1,911 | 245.1 |
| September 2026 | $2,627 | 336.9 |
1917 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 18.1% in 1917 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #3 of 112 from highest to lowest.
- The 1910s averaged 11.4% a year; the decade’s highest was 1918 at 20.4%.
- Prices first stood at twice their 1917 level in February 1951, and three times in April 1970.
- A dollar today buys what 3.8¢ bought in 1917.
CPI-U each month of 1917
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 11.700 |
| February | 12.000 |
| March | 12.000 |
| April | 12.600 |
| May | 12.800 |
| June | 13.000 |
| July | 12.800 |
| August | 13.000 |
| September | 13.300 |
| October | 13.500 |
| November | 13.500 |
| December | 13.700 |
| Year average | 12.825 |
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U, U.S. city average, all items, not seasonally adjusted (1982-84 = 100). Source
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1917 worth today?
$26.27 in September 2026. Prices have risen 2527.2% since 1917, using the 1917 average CPI-U of 12.825 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1917?
Prices rose 18.1% from December 1916 to December 1917 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1917?
3.04% a year, compounded, from 1917 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 23 years.
How much is $100 from 1917 worth today?
$2,627. Multiply any 1917 amount by 26.272 to get today’s money.