When did prices double after 1945?
By March 1969, prices were twice their 1945 average (CPI-U 18.0 → 36.0), 24 years later. They had tripled by July 1975.
What $1 from 1945 is worth today
$1 in 1945 = $18.73 in September 2026
$1 from 1945$18.73in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1945+1773%CPI 18.0 → 336.9
Average a year3.67%compounded since 1945
Inflation in 19452.2%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,872.76
Prices changed1772.8%
Average a year3.67%
$100.00 in 1945 buys what $1,872.76 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 17.992 · 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
1945 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1945 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $18.73 |
| $5.00 | $93.64 |
| $10.00 | $187.28 |
| $20.00 | $374.55 |
| $50.00 | $936.38 |
| $100.00 | $1,873 |
| $500.00 | $9,364 |
| $1,000 | $18,728 |
| $10,000 | $187,276 |
| $50,000 | $936,378 |
| $100,000 | $1,872,756 |
$100 from 1945, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | $148.82 | 26.8 |
| 1965 | $175.13 | 31.5 |
| 1975 | $299.12 | 53.8 |
| 1985 | $597.87 | 107.6 |
| 1995 | $846.97 | 152.4 |
| 2005 | $1,085 | 195.3 |
| 2015 | $1,317 | 237.0 |
| 2025 | $1,789 | 321.9 |
| September 2026 | $1,873 | 336.9 |
1945 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 2.2% in 1945 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #66 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 1945 level in March 1969, and three times in July 1975.
- A dollar today buys what 5.3¢ bought in 1945.
CPI-U each month of 1945
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 17.800 |
| February | 17.800 |
| March | 17.800 |
| April | 17.800 |
| May | 17.900 |
| June | 18.100 |
| July | 18.100 |
| August | 18.100 |
| September | 18.100 |
| October | 18.100 |
| November | 18.100 |
| December | 18.200 |
| Year average | 17.992 |
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 1945 worth today?
$18.73 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1772.8% since 1945, using the 1945 average CPI-U of 17.992 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1945?
Prices rose 2.2% from December 1944 to December 1945 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1945?
3.67% a year, compounded, from 1945 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 19 years.
How much is $100 from 1945 worth today?
$1,873. Multiply any 1945 amount by 18.728 to get today’s money.