When did prices double after 1948?
By May 1974, prices were twice their 1948 average (CPI-U 24.0 → 48.1), 26 years later. They had tripled by June 1979.
What $1 from 1948 is worth today
$1 in 1948 = $14.01 in September 2026
$1 from 1948$14.01in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1948+1301%CPI 24.0 → 336.9
Average a year3.43%compounded since 1948
Inflation in 19483.0%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,401.48
Prices changed1301.5%
Average a year3.43%
$100.00 in 1948 buys what $1,401.48 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 24.042 · 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
1948 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1948 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $14.01 |
| $5.00 | $70.07 |
| $10.00 | $140.15 |
| $20.00 | $280.30 |
| $50.00 | $700.74 |
| $100.00 | $1,401 |
| $500.00 | $7,007 |
| $1,000 | $14,015 |
| $10,000 | $140,148 |
| $50,000 | $700,742 |
| $100,000 | $1,401,484 |
$100 from 1948, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1958 | $120.03 | 28.9 |
| 1968 | $144.68 | 34.8 |
| 1978 | $271.33 | 65.2 |
| 1988 | $491.89 | 118.3 |
| 1998 | $678.02 | 163.0 |
| 2008 | $895.54 | 215.3 |
| 2018 | $1,044 | 251.1 |
| September 2026 | $1,401 | 336.9 |
1948 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 3.0% in 1948 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #45 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 1948 level in May 1974, and three times in June 1979.
- A dollar today buys what 7.1¢ bought in 1948.
CPI-U each month of 1948
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 23.700 |
| February | 23.500 |
| March | 23.400 |
| April | 23.800 |
| May | 23.900 |
| June | 24.100 |
| July | 24.400 |
| August | 24.500 |
| September | 24.500 |
| October | 24.400 |
| November | 24.200 |
| December | 24.100 |
| Year average | 24.042 |
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 1948 worth today?
$14.01 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1301.5% since 1948, using the 1948 average CPI-U of 24.042 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1948?
Prices rose 3.0% from December 1947 to December 1948 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1948?
3.43% a year, compounded, from 1948 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 21 years.
How much is $100 from 1948 worth today?
$1,401. Multiply any 1948 amount by 14.015 to get today’s money.