When did prices double after 1923?
By February 1968, prices were twice their 1923 average (CPI-U 17.1 → 34.1), 45 years later. They had tripled by November 1974.
What $1 from 1923 is worth today
$1 in 1923 = $19.76 in September 2026
$1 from 1923$19.76in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1923+1876%CPI 17.1 → 336.9
Average a year2.93%compounded since 1923
Inflation in 19232.4%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,976.19
Prices changed1876.2%
Average a year2.93%
$100.00 in 1923 buys what $1,976.19 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 17.050 · 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
1923 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1923 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $19.76 |
| $5.00 | $98.81 |
| $10.00 | $197.62 |
| $20.00 | $395.24 |
| $50.00 | $988.09 |
| $100.00 | $1,976 |
| $500.00 | $9,881 |
| $1,000 | $19,762 |
| $10,000 | $197,619 |
| $50,000 | $988,094 |
| $100,000 | $1,976,188 |
$100 from 1923, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1933 | $75.86 | 12.9 |
| 1943 | $101.52 | 17.3 |
| 1953 | $156.99 | 26.8 |
| 1963 | $179.62 | 30.6 |
| 1973 | $260.41 | 44.4 |
| 1983 | $584.16 | 99.6 |
| 1993 | $847.26 | 144.5 |
| 2003 | $1,079 | 184.0 |
| 2013 | $1,366 | 233.0 |
| 2023 | $1,787 | 304.7 |
| September 2026 | $1,976 | 336.9 |
1923 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 2.4% in 1923 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #63 of 112 from highest to lowest.
- The 1920s averaged -0.9% a year; the decade’s highest was 1925 at 3.5%.
- Prices first stood at twice their 1923 level in February 1968, and three times in November 1974.
- A dollar today buys what 5.1¢ bought in 1923.
CPI-U each month of 1923
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 16.800 |
| February | 16.800 |
| March | 16.800 |
| April | 16.900 |
| May | 16.900 |
| June | 17.000 |
| July | 17.200 |
| August | 17.100 |
| September | 17.200 |
| October | 17.300 |
| November | 17.300 |
| December | 17.300 |
| Year average | 17.050 |
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 1923 worth today?
$19.76 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1876.2% since 1923, using the 1923 average CPI-U of 17.050 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1923?
Prices rose 2.4% from December 1922 to December 1923 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1923?
2.93% a year, compounded, from 1923 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 24 years.
How much is $100 from 1923 worth today?
$1,976. Multiply any 1923 amount by 19.762 to get today’s money.