When did prices double after 1950?
By May 1974, prices were twice their 1950 average (CPI-U 24.1 → 48.1), 24 years later. They had tripled by June 1979.
What $1 from 1950 is worth today
$1 in 1950 = $14.00 in September 2026
$1 from 1950$14.00in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1950+1300%CPI 24.1 → 336.9
Average a year3.52%compounded since 1950
Inflation in 19505.9%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,400.03
Prices changed1300.0%
Average a year3.52%
$100.00 in 1950 buys what $1,400.03 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 24.067 · 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
1950 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1950 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $14.00 |
| $5.00 | $70.00 |
| $10.00 | $140.00 |
| $20.00 | $280.01 |
| $50.00 | $700.01 |
| $100.00 | $1,400 |
| $500.00 | $7,000 |
| $1,000 | $14,000 |
| $10,000 | $140,003 |
| $50,000 | $700,014 |
| $100,000 | $1,400,028 |
$100 from 1950, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1960 | $122.89 | 29.6 |
| 1970 | $161.32 | 38.8 |
| 1980 | $342.42 | 82.4 |
| 1990 | $542.90 | 130.7 |
| 2000 | $715.51 | 172.2 |
| 2010 | $906.05 | 218.1 |
| 2020 | $1,075 | 258.8 |
| September 2026 | $1,400 | 336.9 |
1950 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 5.9% in 1950 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #22 of 112 from highest to lowest.
- The 1950s averaged 2.2% a year; the decade’s highest was 1951 at 6.0%.
- Prices first stood at twice their 1950 level in May 1974, and three times in June 1979.
- A dollar today buys what 7.1¢ bought in 1950.
CPI-U each month of 1950
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 23.500 |
| February | 23.500 |
| March | 23.600 |
| April | 23.600 |
| May | 23.700 |
| June | 23.800 |
| July | 24.100 |
| August | 24.300 |
| September | 24.400 |
| October | 24.600 |
| November | 24.700 |
| December | 25.000 |
| Year average | 24.067 |
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 1950 worth today?
$14.00 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1300.0% since 1950, using the 1950 average CPI-U of 24.067 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1950?
Prices rose 5.9% from December 1949 to December 1950 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1950?
3.52% a year, compounded, from 1950 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 20 years.
How much is $100 from 1950 worth today?
$1,400. Multiply any 1950 amount by 14.000 to get today’s money.