When did prices double after 1929?
By April 1968, prices were twice their 1929 average (CPI-U 17.2 → 34.3), 39 years later. They had tripled by November 1974.
What $1 from 1929 is worth today
$1 in 1929 = $19.64 in September 2026
$1 from 1929$19.64in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1929+1864%CPI 17.2 → 336.9
Average a year3.11%compounded since 1929
Inflation in 19290.6%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,963.71
Prices changed1863.7%
Average a year3.11%
$100.00 in 1929 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
1929 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1929 | 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 1929, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | $81.06 | 13.9 |
| 1949 | $138.76 | 23.8 |
| 1959 | $169.89 | 29.1 |
| 1969 | $213.79 | 36.7 |
| 1979 | $422.97 | 72.6 |
| 1989 | $722.49 | 124.0 |
| 1999 | $970.81 | 166.6 |
| 2009 | $1,250 | 214.5 |
| 2019 | $1,490 | 255.7 |
| September 2026 | $1,964 | 336.9 |
1929 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 0.6% in 1929 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #97 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 1929 level in April 1968, and three times in November 1974.
- A dollar today buys what 5.1¢ bought in 1929.
CPI-U each month of 1929
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 17.100 |
| February | 17.100 |
| March | 17.000 |
| April | 16.900 |
| May | 17.000 |
| June | 17.100 |
| July | 17.300 |
| August | 17.300 |
| September | 17.300 |
| October | 17.300 |
| November | 17.300 |
| December | 17.200 |
| 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 1929 worth today?
$19.64 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1863.7% since 1929, using the 1929 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 1929?
Prices rose 0.6% from December 1928 to December 1929 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1929?
3.11% a year, compounded, from 1929 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 23 years.
How much is $100 from 1929 worth today?
$1,964. Multiply any 1929 amount by 19.637 to get today’s money.