When did prices double after 1949?
By March 1974, prices were twice their 1949 average (CPI-U 23.8 → 47.6), 25 years later. They had tripled by May 1979.
What $1 from 1949 is worth today
$1 in 1949 = $14.15 in September 2026
$1 from 1949$14.15in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1949+1315%CPI 23.8 → 336.9
Average a year3.49%compounded since 1949
Inflation in 1949-2.1%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,415.22
Prices changed1315.2%
Average a year3.49%
$100.00 in 1949 buys what $1,415.22 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 23.808 · 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
1949 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1949 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $14.15 |
| $5.00 | $70.76 |
| $10.00 | $141.52 |
| $20.00 | $283.04 |
| $50.00 | $707.61 |
| $100.00 | $1,415 |
| $500.00 | $7,076 |
| $1,000 | $14,152 |
| $10,000 | $141,522 |
| $50,000 | $707,609 |
| $100,000 | $1,415,219 |
$100 from 1949, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | $122.44 | 29.1 |
| 1969 | $154.08 | 36.7 |
| 1979 | $304.83 | 72.6 |
| 1989 | $520.69 | 124.0 |
| 1999 | $699.65 | 166.6 |
| 2009 | $901.10 | 214.5 |
| 2019 | $1,074 | 255.7 |
| September 2026 | $1,415 | 336.9 |
1949 in the inflation record
- Prices rose -2.1% in 1949 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #105 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 1949 level in March 1974, and three times in May 1979.
- A dollar today buys what 7.1¢ bought in 1949.
CPI-U each month of 1949
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 24.000 |
| February | 23.800 |
| March | 23.800 |
| April | 23.900 |
| May | 23.800 |
| June | 23.900 |
| July | 23.700 |
| August | 23.800 |
| September | 23.900 |
| October | 23.700 |
| November | 23.800 |
| December | 23.600 |
| Year average | 23.808 |
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 1949 worth today?
$14.15 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1315.2% since 1949, using the 1949 average CPI-U of 23.808 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1949?
Prices rose -2.1% from December 1948 to December 1949 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1949?
3.49% a year, compounded, from 1949 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 20 years.
How much is $100 from 1949 worth today?
$1,415. Multiply any 1949 amount by 14.152 to get today’s money.