When did prices double after 1944?
By October 1968, prices were twice their 1944 average (CPI-U 17.6 → 35.2), 24 years later. They had tripled by April 1975.
What $1 from 1944 is worth today
$1 in 1944 = $19.15 in September 2026
$1 from 1944$19.15in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1944+1815%CPI 17.6 → 336.9
Average a year3.65%compounded since 1944
Inflation in 19442.3%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,915.34
Prices changed1815.3%
Average a year3.65%
$100.00 in 1944 buys what $1,915.34 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 17.592 · 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
1944 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1944 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $19.15 |
| $5.00 | $95.77 |
| $10.00 | $191.53 |
| $20.00 | $383.07 |
| $50.00 | $957.67 |
| $100.00 | $1,915 |
| $500.00 | $9,577 |
| $1,000 | $19,153 |
| $10,000 | $191,534 |
| $50,000 | $957,669 |
| $100,000 | $1,915,339 |
$100 from 1944, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | $152.63 | 26.8 |
| 1964 | $176.31 | 31.0 |
| 1974 | $280.29 | 49.3 |
| 1984 | $590.53 | 103.9 |
| 1994 | $842.59 | 148.2 |
| 2004 | $1,074 | 188.9 |
| 2014 | $1,346 | 236.7 |
| 2024 | $1,783 | 313.7 |
| September 2026 | $1,915 | 336.9 |
1944 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 2.3% in 1944 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #64 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 1944 level in October 1968, and three times in April 1975.
- A dollar today buys what 5.2¢ bought in 1944.
CPI-U each month of 1944
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 17.400 |
| February | 17.400 |
| March | 17.400 |
| April | 17.500 |
| May | 17.500 |
| June | 17.600 |
| July | 17.700 |
| August | 17.700 |
| September | 17.700 |
| October | 17.700 |
| November | 17.700 |
| December | 17.800 |
| Year average | 17.592 |
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 1944 worth today?
$19.15 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1815.3% since 1944, using the 1944 average CPI-U of 17.592 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1944?
Prices rose 2.3% from December 1943 to December 1944 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1944?
3.65% a year, compounded, from 1944 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 19 years.
How much is $100 from 1944 worth today?
$1,915. Multiply any 1944 amount by 19.153 to get today’s money.