When did prices double after 1938?
By July 1957, prices were twice their 1938 average (CPI-U 14.1 → 28.2), 19 years later. They had tripled by October 1972.
What $1 from 1938 is worth today
$1 in 1938 = $23.91 in September 2026
$1 from 1938$23.91in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1938+2291%CPI 14.1 → 336.9
Average a year3.66%compounded since 1938
Inflation in 1938-2.8%December to December
Worth in September 2026$2,391.06
Prices changed2291.1%
Average a year3.66%
$100.00 in 1938 buys what $2,391.06 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 14.092 · 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
1938 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1938 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $23.91 |
| $5.00 | $119.55 |
| $10.00 | $239.11 |
| $20.00 | $478.21 |
| $50.00 | $1,196 |
| $100.00 | $2,391 |
| $500.00 | $11,955 |
| $1,000 | $23,911 |
| $10,000 | $239,106 |
| $50,000 | $1,195,529 |
| $100,000 | $2,391,059 |
$100 from 1938, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | $170.61 | 24.0 |
| 1958 | $204.79 | 28.9 |
| 1968 | $246.84 | 34.8 |
| 1978 | $462.92 | 65.2 |
| 1988 | $839.21 | 118.3 |
| 1998 | $1,157 | 163.0 |
| 2008 | $1,528 | 215.3 |
| 2018 | $1,782 | 251.1 |
| September 2026 | $2,391 | 336.9 |
1938 in the inflation record
- Prices rose -2.8% in 1938 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #108 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 1938 level in July 1957, and three times in October 1972.
- A dollar today buys what 4.2¢ bought in 1938.
CPI-U each month of 1938
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 14.200 |
| February | 14.100 |
| March | 14.100 |
| April | 14.200 |
| May | 14.100 |
| June | 14.100 |
| July | 14.100 |
| August | 14.100 |
| September | 14.100 |
| October | 14.000 |
| November | 14.000 |
| December | 14.000 |
| Year average | 14.092 |
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 1938 worth today?
$23.91 in September 2026. Prices have risen 2291.1% since 1938, using the 1938 average CPI-U of 14.092 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1938?
Prices rose -2.8% from December 1937 to December 1938 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1938?
3.66% a year, compounded, from 1938 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 19 years.
How much is $100 from 1938 worth today?
$2,391. Multiply any 1938 amount by 23.911 to get today’s money.