When did prices double after 1926?
By November 1968, prices were twice their 1926 average (CPI-U 17.7 → 35.4), 42 years later. They had tripled by May 1975.
What $1 from 1926 is worth today
$1 in 1926 = $19.04 in September 2026
$1 from 1926$19.04in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1926+1804%CPI 17.7 → 336.9
Average a year2.98%compounded since 1926
Inflation in 1926-1.1%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,903.62
Prices changed1803.6%
Average a year2.98%
$100.00 in 1926 buys what $1,903.62 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 17.700 · 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
1926 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1926 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $19.04 |
| $5.00 | $95.18 |
| $10.00 | $190.36 |
| $20.00 | $380.72 |
| $50.00 | $951.81 |
| $100.00 | $1,904 |
| $500.00 | $9,518 |
| $1,000 | $19,036 |
| $10,000 | $190,362 |
| $50,000 | $951,808 |
| $100,000 | $1,903,616 |
$100 from 1926, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1936 | $78.34 | 13.9 |
| 1946 | $110.26 | 19.5 |
| 1956 | $153.58 | 27.2 |
| 1966 | $183.38 | 32.5 |
| 1976 | $321.52 | 56.9 |
| 1986 | $619.26 | 109.6 |
| 1996 | $886.16 | 156.8 |
| 2006 | $1,139 | 201.6 |
| 2016 | $1,356 | 240.0 |
| September 2026 | $1,904 | 336.9 |
1926 in the inflation record
- Prices rose -1.1% in 1926 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #103 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 1926 level in November 1968, and three times in May 1975.
- A dollar today buys what 5.3¢ bought in 1926.
CPI-U each month of 1926
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 17.900 |
| February | 17.900 |
| March | 17.800 |
| April | 17.900 |
| May | 17.800 |
| June | 17.700 |
| July | 17.500 |
| August | 17.400 |
| September | 17.500 |
| October | 17.600 |
| November | 17.700 |
| December | 17.700 |
| Year average | 17.700 |
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 1926 worth today?
$19.04 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1803.6% since 1926, using the 1926 average CPI-U of 17.700 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1926?
Prices rose -1.1% from December 1925 to December 1926 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1926?
2.98% a year, compounded, from 1926 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 24 years.
How much is $100 from 1926 worth today?
$1,904. Multiply any 1926 amount by 19.036 to get today’s money.