When did prices double after 1942?
By August 1966, prices were twice their 1942 average (CPI-U 16.3 → 32.7), 24 years later. They had tripled by June 1974.
What $1 from 1942 is worth today
$1 in 1942 = $20.63 in September 2026
$1 from 1942$20.63in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1942+1963%CPI 16.3 → 336.9
Average a year3.66%compounded since 1942
Inflation in 19429.0%December to December
Worth in September 2026$2,062.90
Prices changed1962.9%
Average a year3.66%
$100.00 in 1942 buys what $2,062.90 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 16.333 · 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
1942 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1942 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $20.63 |
| $5.00 | $103.14 |
| $10.00 | $206.29 |
| $20.00 | $412.58 |
| $50.00 | $1,031 |
| $100.00 | $2,063 |
| $500.00 | $10,314 |
| $1,000 | $20,629 |
| $10,000 | $206,290 |
| $50,000 | $1,031,449 |
| $100,000 | $2,062,898 |
$100 from 1942, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | $162.55 | 26.5 |
| 1962 | $185.20 | 30.2 |
| 1972 | $256.02 | 41.8 |
| 1982 | $590.82 | 96.5 |
| 1992 | $859.08 | 140.3 |
| 2002 | $1,101 | 179.9 |
| 2012 | $1,406 | 229.6 |
| 2022 | $1,792 | 292.7 |
| September 2026 | $2,063 | 336.9 |
1942 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 9.0% in 1942 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #10 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 1942 level in August 1966, and three times in June 1974.
- A dollar today buys what 4.8¢ bought in 1942.
CPI-U each month of 1942
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 15.700 |
| February | 15.800 |
| March | 16.000 |
| April | 16.100 |
| May | 16.300 |
| June | 16.300 |
| July | 16.400 |
| August | 16.500 |
| September | 16.500 |
| October | 16.700 |
| November | 16.800 |
| December | 16.900 |
| Year average | 16.333 |
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 1942 worth today?
$20.63 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1962.9% since 1942, using the 1942 average CPI-U of 16.333 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1942?
Prices rose 9.0% from December 1941 to December 1942 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1942?
3.66% a year, compounded, from 1942 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 19 years.
How much is $100 from 1942 worth today?
$2,063. Multiply any 1942 amount by 20.629 to get today’s money.