When did prices double after 1928?
By April 1968, prices were twice their 1928 average (CPI-U 17.2 → 34.3), 40 years later. They had tripled by November 1974.
What $1 from 1928 is worth today
$1 in 1928 = $19.64 in September 2026
$1 from 1928$19.64in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1928+1864%CPI 17.2 → 336.9
Average a year3.08%compounded since 1928
Inflation in 1928-1.2%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,963.71
Prices changed1863.7%
Average a year3.08%
$100.00 in 1928 buys what $1,963.71 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 17.158 · 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
1928 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1928 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $19.64 |
| $5.00 | $98.19 |
| $10.00 | $196.37 |
| $20.00 | $392.74 |
| $50.00 | $981.86 |
| $100.00 | $1,964 |
| $500.00 | $9,819 |
| $1,000 | $19,637 |
| $10,000 | $196,371 |
| $50,000 | $981,855 |
| $100,000 | $1,963,711 |
$100 from 1928, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1938 | $82.13 | 14.1 |
| 1948 | $140.12 | 24.0 |
| 1958 | $168.19 | 28.9 |
| 1968 | $202.72 | 34.8 |
| 1978 | $380.18 | 65.2 |
| 1988 | $689.22 | 118.3 |
| 1998 | $950.02 | 163.0 |
| 2008 | $1,255 | 215.3 |
| 2018 | $1,463 | 251.1 |
| September 2026 | $1,964 | 336.9 |
1928 in the inflation record
- Prices rose -1.2% in 1928 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #104 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 1928 level in April 1968, and three times in November 1974.
- A dollar today buys what 5.1¢ bought in 1928.
CPI-U each month of 1928
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 17.300 |
| February | 17.100 |
| March | 17.100 |
| April | 17.100 |
| May | 17.200 |
| June | 17.100 |
| July | 17.100 |
| August | 17.100 |
| September | 17.300 |
| October | 17.200 |
| November | 17.200 |
| December | 17.100 |
| Year average | 17.158 |
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 1928 worth today?
$19.64 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1863.7% since 1928, using the 1928 average CPI-U of 17.158 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1928?
Prices rose -1.2% from December 1927 to December 1928 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1928?
3.08% a year, compounded, from 1928 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 23 years.
How much is $100 from 1928 worth today?
$1,964. Multiply any 1928 amount by 19.637 to get today’s money.