When did prices double after 1940?
By June 1957, prices were twice their 1940 average (CPI-U 14.0 → 28.0), 17 years later. They had tripled by September 1972.
What $1 from 1940 is worth today
$1 in 1940 = $24.05 in September 2026
$1 from 1940$24.05in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1940+2305%CPI 14.0 → 336.9
Average a year3.76%compounded since 1940
Inflation in 19400.7%December to December
Worth in September 2026$2,405.28
Prices changed2305.3%
Average a year3.76%
$100.00 in 1940 buys what $2,405.28 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 14.008 · 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
1940 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1940 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $24.05 |
| $5.00 | $120.26 |
| $10.00 | $240.53 |
| $20.00 | $481.06 |
| $50.00 | $1,203 |
| $100.00 | $2,405 |
| $500.00 | $12,026 |
| $1,000 | $24,053 |
| $10,000 | $240,528 |
| $50,000 | $1,202,641 |
| $100,000 | $2,405,283 |
$100 from 1940, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | $171.80 | 24.1 |
| 1960 | $211.12 | 29.6 |
| 1970 | $277.16 | 38.8 |
| 1980 | $588.28 | 82.4 |
| 1990 | $932.72 | 130.7 |
| 2000 | $1,229 | 172.2 |
| 2010 | $1,557 | 218.1 |
| 2020 | $1,848 | 258.8 |
| September 2026 | $2,405 | 336.9 |
1940 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 0.7% in 1940 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #95 of 112 from highest to lowest.
- The 1940s averaged 5.5% a year; the decade’s highest was 1946 at 18.1%.
- Prices first stood at twice their 1940 level in June 1957, and three times in September 1972.
- A dollar today buys what 4.2¢ bought in 1940.
CPI-U each month of 1940
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 13.900 |
| February | 14.000 |
| March | 14.000 |
| April | 14.000 |
| May | 14.000 |
| June | 14.100 |
| July | 14.000 |
| August | 14.000 |
| September | 14.000 |
| October | 14.000 |
| November | 14.000 |
| December | 14.100 |
| Year average | 14.008 |
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 1940 worth today?
$24.05 in September 2026. Prices have risen 2305.3% since 1940, using the 1940 average CPI-U of 14.008 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1940?
Prices rose 0.7% from December 1939 to December 1940 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1940?
3.76% a year, compounded, from 1940 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 19 years.
How much is $100 from 1940 worth today?
$2,405. Multiply any 1940 amount by 24.053 to get today’s money.