When did prices double after 1947?
By August 1973, prices were twice their 1947 average (CPI-U 22.3 → 44.6), 26 years later. They had tripled by October 1978.
What $1 from 1947 is worth today
$1 in 1947 = $15.09 in September 2026
$1 from 1947$15.09in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1947+1409%CPI 22.3 → 336.9
Average a year3.48%compounded since 1947
Inflation in 19478.8%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,509.25
Prices changed1409.2%
Average a year3.48%
$100.00 in 1947 buys what $1,509.25 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 22.325 · 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
1947 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1947 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $15.09 |
| $5.00 | $75.46 |
| $10.00 | $150.92 |
| $20.00 | $301.85 |
| $50.00 | $754.62 |
| $100.00 | $1,509 |
| $500.00 | $7,546 |
| $1,000 | $15,092 |
| $10,000 | $150,925 |
| $50,000 | $754,625 |
| $100,000 | $1,509,250 |
$100 from 1947, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1957 | $125.83 | 28.1 |
| 1967 | $149.42 | 33.4 |
| 1977 | $271.48 | 60.6 |
| 1987 | $508.96 | 113.6 |
| 1997 | $719.00 | 160.5 |
| 2007 | $928.75 | 207.3 |
| 2017 | $1,098 | 245.1 |
| September 2026 | $1,509 | 336.9 |
1947 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 8.8% in 1947 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #13 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 1947 level in August 1973, and three times in October 1978.
- A dollar today buys what 6.6¢ bought in 1947.
CPI-U each month of 1947
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 21.500 |
| February | 21.500 |
| March | 21.900 |
| April | 21.900 |
| May | 21.900 |
| June | 22.000 |
| July | 22.200 |
| August | 22.500 |
| September | 23.000 |
| October | 23.000 |
| November | 23.100 |
| December | 23.400 |
| Year average | 22.325 |
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 1947 worth today?
$15.09 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1409.2% since 1947, using the 1947 average CPI-U of 22.325 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1947?
Prices rose 8.8% from December 1946 to December 1947 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1947?
3.48% a year, compounded, from 1947 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 20 years.
How much is $100 from 1947 worth today?
$1,509. Multiply any 1947 amount by 15.092 to get today’s money.