When did prices double after 1946?
By September 1970, prices were twice their 1946 average (CPI-U 19.5 → 39.0), 24 years later. They had tripled by February 1977.
What $1 from 1946 is worth today
$1 in 1946 = $17.26 in September 2026
$1 from 1946$17.26in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1946+1626%CPI 19.5 → 336.9
Average a year3.61%compounded since 1946
Inflation in 194618.1%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,726.42
Prices changed1626.4%
Average a year3.61%
$100.00 in 1946 buys what $1,726.42 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 19.517 · 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
1946 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1946 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $17.26 |
| $5.00 | $86.32 |
| $10.00 | $172.64 |
| $20.00 | $345.28 |
| $50.00 | $863.21 |
| $100.00 | $1,726 |
| $500.00 | $8,632 |
| $1,000 | $17,264 |
| $10,000 | $172,642 |
| $50,000 | $863,211 |
| $100,000 | $1,726,422 |
$100 from 1946, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | $139.28 | 27.2 |
| 1966 | $166.31 | 32.5 |
| 1976 | $291.59 | 56.9 |
| 1986 | $561.61 | 109.6 |
| 1996 | $803.67 | 156.8 |
| 2006 | $1,033 | 201.6 |
| 2016 | $1,230 | 240.0 |
| September 2026 | $1,726 | 336.9 |
1946 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 18.1% in 1946 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #2 of 112 from highest to lowest.
- The 1940s averaged 5.5% a year, and 1946 was the decade’s highest.
- Prices first stood at twice their 1946 level in September 1970, and three times in February 1977.
- A dollar today buys what 5.8¢ bought in 1946.
CPI-U each month of 1946
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 18.200 |
| February | 18.100 |
| March | 18.300 |
| April | 18.400 |
| May | 18.500 |
| June | 18.700 |
| July | 19.800 |
| August | 20.200 |
| September | 20.400 |
| October | 20.800 |
| November | 21.300 |
| December | 21.500 |
| Year average | 19.517 |
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 1946 worth today?
$17.26 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1626.4% since 1946, using the 1946 average CPI-U of 19.517 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1946?
Prices rose 18.1% from December 1945 to December 1946 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1946?
3.61% a year, compounded, from 1946 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 20 years.
How much is $100 from 1946 worth today?
$1,726. Multiply any 1946 amount by 17.264 to get today’s money.