When did prices double after 1918?
By February 1962, prices were twice their 1918 average (CPI-U 15.0 → 30.1), 44 years later. They had tripled by September 1973.
What $1 from 1918 is worth today
$1 in 1918 = $22.40 in September 2026
$1 from 1918$22.40in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1918+2140%CPI 15.0 → 336.9
Average a year2.91%compounded since 1918
Inflation in 191820.4%December to December
Worth in September 2026$2,240.04
Prices changed2140.0%
Average a year2.91%
$100.00 in 1918 buys what $2,240.04 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 15.042 · 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
1918 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1918 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $22.40 |
| $5.00 | $112.00 |
| $10.00 | $224.00 |
| $20.00 | $448.01 |
| $50.00 | $1,120 |
| $100.00 | $2,240 |
| $500.00 | $11,200 |
| $1,000 | $22,400 |
| $10,000 | $224,004 |
| $50,000 | $1,120,022 |
| $100,000 | $2,240,044 |
$100 from 1918, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1928 | $114.07 | 17.2 |
| 1938 | $93.68 | 14.1 |
| 1948 | $159.83 | 24.0 |
| 1958 | $191.86 | 28.9 |
| 1968 | $231.25 | 34.8 |
| 1978 | $433.68 | 65.2 |
| 1988 | $786.20 | 118.3 |
| 1998 | $1,084 | 163.0 |
| 2008 | $1,431 | 215.3 |
| 2018 | $1,669 | 251.1 |
| September 2026 | $2,240 | 336.9 |
1918 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 20.4% in 1918 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #1 of 112 from highest to lowest.
- The 1910s averaged 11.4% a year, and 1918 was the decade’s highest.
- Prices first stood at twice their 1918 level in February 1962, and three times in September 1973.
- A dollar today buys what 4.5¢ bought in 1918.
CPI-U each month of 1918
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 14.000 |
| February | 14.100 |
| March | 14.000 |
| April | 14.200 |
| May | 14.500 |
| June | 14.700 |
| July | 15.100 |
| August | 15.400 |
| September | 15.700 |
| October | 16.000 |
| November | 16.300 |
| December | 16.500 |
| Year average | 15.042 |
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 1918 worth today?
$22.40 in September 2026. Prices have risen 2140.0% since 1918, using the 1918 average CPI-U of 15.042 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1918?
Prices rose 20.4% from December 1917 to December 1918 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1918?
2.91% a year, compounded, from 1918 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 24 years.
How much is $100 from 1918 worth today?
$2,240. Multiply any 1918 amount by 22.400 to get today’s money.