When did prices double after 1941?
By April 1960, prices were twice their 1941 average (CPI-U 14.7 → 29.5), 19 years later. They had tripled by June 1973.
What $1 from 1941 is worth today
$1 in 1941 = $22.88 in September 2026
$1 from 1941$22.88in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1941+2188%CPI 14.7 → 336.9
Average a year3.74%compounded since 1941
Inflation in 19419.9%December to December
Worth in September 2026$2,288.22
Prices changed2188.2%
Average a year3.74%
$100.00 in 1941 buys what $2,288.22 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 14.725 · 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
1941 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1941 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $22.88 |
| $5.00 | $114.41 |
| $10.00 | $228.82 |
| $20.00 | $457.64 |
| $50.00 | $1,144 |
| $100.00 | $2,288 |
| $500.00 | $11,441 |
| $1,000 | $22,882 |
| $10,000 | $228,822 |
| $50,000 | $1,144,109 |
| $100,000 | $2,288,217 |
$100 from 1941, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | $176.29 | 26.0 |
| 1961 | $203.00 | 29.9 |
| 1971 | $274.99 | 40.5 |
| 1981 | $617.49 | 90.9 |
| 1991 | $924.90 | 136.2 |
| 2001 | $1,202 | 177.1 |
| 2011 | $1,528 | 224.9 |
| 2021 | $1,840 | 271.0 |
| September 2026 | $2,288 | 336.9 |
1941 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 9.9% in 1941 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #9 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 1941 level in April 1960, and three times in June 1973.
- A dollar today buys what 4.4¢ bought in 1941.
CPI-U each month of 1941
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 14.100 |
| February | 14.100 |
| March | 14.200 |
| April | 14.300 |
| May | 14.400 |
| June | 14.700 |
| July | 14.700 |
| August | 14.900 |
| September | 15.100 |
| October | 15.300 |
| November | 15.400 |
| December | 15.500 |
| Year average | 14.725 |
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 1941 worth today?
$22.88 in September 2026. Prices have risen 2188.2% since 1941, using the 1941 average CPI-U of 14.725 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1941?
Prices rose 9.9% from December 1940 to December 1941 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1941?
3.74% a year, compounded, from 1941 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 19 years.
How much is $100 from 1941 worth today?
$2,288. Multiply any 1941 amount by 22.882 to get today’s money.