When did prices double after 1937?
By March 1958, prices were twice their 1937 average (CPI-U 14.4 → 28.8), 21 years later. They had tripled by March 1973.
What $1 from 1937 is worth today
$1 in 1937 = $23.43 in September 2026
$1 from 1937$23.43in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1937+2243%CPI 14.4 → 336.9
Average a year3.60%compounded since 1937
Inflation in 19372.9%December to December
Worth in September 2026$2,342.57
Prices changed2242.6%
Average a year3.60%
$100.00 in 1937 buys what $2,342.57 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 14.383 · 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
1937 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1937 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $23.43 |
| $5.00 | $117.13 |
| $10.00 | $234.26 |
| $20.00 | $468.51 |
| $50.00 | $1,171 |
| $100.00 | $2,343 |
| $500.00 | $11,713 |
| $1,000 | $23,426 |
| $10,000 | $234,257 |
| $50,000 | $1,171,286 |
| $100,000 | $2,342,572 |
$100 from 1937, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | $155.21 | 22.3 |
| 1957 | $195.31 | 28.1 |
| 1967 | $231.92 | 33.4 |
| 1977 | $421.38 | 60.6 |
| 1987 | $789.98 | 113.6 |
| 1997 | $1,116 | 160.5 |
| 2007 | $1,442 | 207.3 |
| 2017 | $1,704 | 245.1 |
| September 2026 | $2,343 | 336.9 |
1937 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 2.9% in 1937 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #53 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 1937 level in March 1958, and three times in March 1973.
- A dollar today buys what 4.3¢ bought in 1937.
CPI-U each month of 1937
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 14.100 |
| February | 14.100 |
| March | 14.200 |
| April | 14.300 |
| May | 14.400 |
| June | 14.400 |
| July | 14.500 |
| August | 14.500 |
| September | 14.600 |
| October | 14.600 |
| November | 14.500 |
| December | 14.400 |
| Year average | 14.383 |
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 1937 worth today?
$23.43 in September 2026. Prices have risen 2242.6% since 1937, using the 1937 average CPI-U of 14.383 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1937?
Prices rose 2.9% from December 1936 to December 1937 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1937?
3.60% a year, compounded, from 1937 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 20 years.
How much is $100 from 1937 worth today?
$2,343. Multiply any 1937 amount by 23.426 to get today’s money.