When did prices double after 1939?
By April 1957, prices were twice their 1939 average (CPI-U 13.9 → 27.8), 18 years later. They had tripled by July 1972.
What $1 from 1939 is worth today
$1 in 1939 = $24.23 in September 2026
$1 from 1939$24.23in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1939+2323%CPI 13.9 → 336.9
Average a year3.72%compounded since 1939
Inflation in 19390.0%December to December
Worth in September 2026$2,422.58
Prices changed2322.6%
Average a year3.72%
$100.00 in 1939 buys what $2,422.58 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 13.908 · 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
1939 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1939 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $24.23 |
| $5.00 | $121.13 |
| $10.00 | $242.26 |
| $20.00 | $484.52 |
| $50.00 | $1,211 |
| $100.00 | $2,423 |
| $500.00 | $12,113 |
| $1,000 | $24,226 |
| $10,000 | $242,258 |
| $50,000 | $1,211,288 |
| $100,000 | $2,422,576 |
$100 from 1939, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1949 | $171.18 | 23.8 |
| 1959 | $209.59 | 29.1 |
| 1969 | $263.75 | 36.7 |
| 1979 | $521.81 | 72.6 |
| 1989 | $891.31 | 124.0 |
| 1999 | $1,198 | 166.6 |
| 2009 | $1,543 | 214.5 |
| 2019 | $1,838 | 255.7 |
| September 2026 | $2,423 | 336.9 |
1939 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 0.0% in 1939 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #100 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 1939 level in April 1957, and three times in July 1972.
- A dollar today buys what 4.1¢ bought in 1939.
CPI-U each month of 1939
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 14.000 |
| February | 13.900 |
| March | 13.900 |
| April | 13.800 |
| May | 13.800 |
| June | 13.800 |
| July | 13.800 |
| August | 13.800 |
| September | 14.100 |
| October | 14.000 |
| November | 14.000 |
| December | 14.000 |
| Year average | 13.908 |
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 1939 worth today?
$24.23 in September 2026. Prices have risen 2322.6% since 1939, using the 1939 average CPI-U of 13.908 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1939?
Prices rose 0.0% from December 1938 to December 1939 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1939?
3.72% a year, compounded, from 1939 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 19 years.
How much is $100 from 1939 worth today?
$2,423. Multiply any 1939 amount by 24.226 to get today’s money.