When did prices double after 1936?
By March 1957, prices were twice their 1936 average (CPI-U 13.9 → 27.7), 21 years later. They had tripled by May 1972.
What $1 from 1936 is worth today
$1 in 1936 = $24.30 in September 2026
$1 from 1936$24.30in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1936+2330%CPI 13.9 → 336.9
Average a year3.60%compounded since 1936
Inflation in 19361.4%December to December
Worth in September 2026$2,429.86
Prices changed2329.9%
Average a year3.60%
$100.00 in 1936 buys what $2,429.86 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 13.867 · 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
1936 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1936 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $24.30 |
| $5.00 | $121.49 |
| $10.00 | $242.99 |
| $20.00 | $485.97 |
| $50.00 | $1,215 |
| $100.00 | $2,430 |
| $500.00 | $12,149 |
| $1,000 | $24,299 |
| $10,000 | $242,986 |
| $50,000 | $1,214,928 |
| $100,000 | $2,429,856 |
$100 from 1936, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | $140.75 | 19.5 |
| 1956 | $196.03 | 27.2 |
| 1966 | $234.07 | 32.5 |
| 1976 | $410.40 | 56.9 |
| 1986 | $790.44 | 109.6 |
| 1996 | $1,131 | 156.8 |
| 2006 | $1,454 | 201.6 |
| 2016 | $1,731 | 240.0 |
| September 2026 | $2,430 | 336.9 |
1936 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 1.4% in 1936 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #83 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 1936 level in March 1957, and three times in May 1972.
- A dollar today buys what 4.1¢ bought in 1936.
CPI-U each month of 1936
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 13.800 |
| February | 13.800 |
| March | 13.700 |
| April | 13.700 |
| May | 13.700 |
| June | 13.800 |
| July | 13.900 |
| August | 14.000 |
| September | 14.000 |
| October | 14.000 |
| November | 14.000 |
| December | 14.000 |
| Year average | 13.867 |
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 1936 worth today?
$24.30 in September 2026. Prices have risen 2329.9% since 1936, using the 1936 average CPI-U of 13.867 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1936?
Prices rose 1.4% from December 1935 to December 1936 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1936?
3.60% a year, compounded, from 1936 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 20 years.
How much is $100 from 1936 worth today?
$2,430. Multiply any 1936 amount by 24.299 to get today’s money.