When did prices double after 1931?
By March 1963, prices were twice their 1931 average (CPI-U 15.2 → 30.4), 32 years later. They had tripled by November 1973.
What $1 from 1931 is worth today
$1 in 1931 = $22.15 in September 2026
$1 from 1931$22.15in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1931+2115%CPI 15.2 → 336.9
Average a year3.31%compounded since 1931
Inflation in 1931-9.3%December to December
Worth in September 2026$2,215.50
Prices changed2115.5%
Average a year3.31%
$100.00 in 1931 buys what $2,215.50 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 15.208 · 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
1931 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1931 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $22.15 |
| $5.00 | $110.77 |
| $10.00 | $221.55 |
| $20.00 | $443.10 |
| $50.00 | $1,108 |
| $100.00 | $2,215 |
| $500.00 | $11,077 |
| $1,000 | $22,155 |
| $10,000 | $221,550 |
| $50,000 | $1,107,748 |
| $100,000 | $2,215,496 |
$100 from 1931, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1941 | $96.82 | 14.7 |
| 1951 | $170.68 | 26.0 |
| 1961 | $196.55 | 29.9 |
| 1971 | $266.25 | 40.5 |
| 1981 | $597.86 | 90.9 |
| 1991 | $895.51 | 136.2 |
| 2001 | $1,164 | 177.1 |
| 2011 | $1,479 | 224.9 |
| 2021 | $1,782 | 271.0 |
| September 2026 | $2,215 | 336.9 |
1931 in the inflation record
- Prices rose -9.3% in 1931 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #110 of 112 from highest to lowest.
- The 1930s averaged -1.9% a year; the decade’s highest was 1935 at 3.0%.
- Prices first stood at twice their 1931 level in March 1963, and three times in November 1973.
- A dollar today buys what 4.5¢ bought in 1931.
CPI-U each month of 1931
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 15.900 |
| February | 15.700 |
| March | 15.600 |
| April | 15.500 |
| May | 15.300 |
| June | 15.100 |
| July | 15.100 |
| August | 15.100 |
| September | 15.000 |
| October | 14.900 |
| November | 14.700 |
| December | 14.600 |
| Year average | 15.208 |
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 1931 worth today?
$22.15 in September 2026. Prices have risen 2115.5% since 1931, using the 1931 average CPI-U of 15.208 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1931?
Prices rose -9.3% from December 1930 to December 1931 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1931?
3.31% a year, compounded, from 1931 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 21 years.
How much is $100 from 1931 worth today?
$2,215. Multiply any 1931 amount by 22.155 to get today’s money.