When did prices double after 1919?
By June 1968, prices were twice their 1919 average (CPI-U 17.3 → 34.7), 49 years later. They had tripled by January 1975.
What $1 from 1919 is worth today
$1 in 1919 = $19.44 in September 2026
$1 from 1919$19.44in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1919+1844%CPI 17.3 → 336.9
Average a year2.81%compounded since 1919
Inflation in 191914.5%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,943.88
Prices changed1843.9%
Average a year2.81%
$100.00 in 1919 buys what $1,943.88 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 17.333 · 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
1919 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1919 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $19.44 |
| $5.00 | $97.19 |
| $10.00 | $194.39 |
| $20.00 | $388.78 |
| $50.00 | $971.94 |
| $100.00 | $1,944 |
| $500.00 | $9,719 |
| $1,000 | $19,439 |
| $10,000 | $194,388 |
| $50,000 | $971,942 |
| $100,000 | $1,943,885 |
$100 from 1919, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1929 | $98.99 | 17.2 |
| 1939 | $80.24 | 13.9 |
| 1949 | $137.36 | 23.8 |
| 1959 | $168.17 | 29.1 |
| 1969 | $211.63 | 36.7 |
| 1979 | $418.70 | 72.6 |
| 1989 | $715.19 | 124.0 |
| 1999 | $961.01 | 166.6 |
| 2009 | $1,238 | 214.5 |
| 2019 | $1,475 | 255.7 |
| September 2026 | $1,944 | 336.9 |
1919 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 14.5% in 1919 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #4 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 1919 level in June 1968, and three times in January 1975.
- A dollar today buys what 5.1¢ bought in 1919.
CPI-U each month of 1919
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 16.500 |
| February | 16.200 |
| March | 16.400 |
| April | 16.700 |
| May | 16.900 |
| June | 16.900 |
| July | 17.400 |
| August | 17.700 |
| September | 17.800 |
| October | 18.100 |
| November | 18.500 |
| December | 18.900 |
| Year average | 17.333 |
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 1919 worth today?
$19.44 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1843.9% since 1919, using the 1919 average CPI-U of 17.333 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1919?
Prices rose 14.5% from December 1918 to December 1919 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1919?
2.81% a year, compounded, from 1919 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 25 years.
How much is $100 from 1919 worth today?
$1,944. Multiply any 1919 amount by 19.439 to get today’s money.