When did prices double after 1951?
By January 1975, prices were twice their 1951 average (CPI-U 26.0 → 51.9), 24 years later. They had tripled by February 1980.
What $1 from 1951 is worth today
$1 in 1951 = $12.98 in September 2026
$1 from 1951$12.98in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1951+1198%CPI 26.0 → 336.9
Average a year3.47%compounded since 1951
Inflation in 19516.0%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,298.00
Prices changed1198.0%
Average a year3.47%
$100.00 in 1951 buys what $1,298.00 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 25.958 · 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
1951 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1951 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $12.98 |
| $5.00 | $64.90 |
| $10.00 | $129.80 |
| $20.00 | $259.60 |
| $50.00 | $649.00 |
| $100.00 | $1,298 |
| $500.00 | $6,490 |
| $1,000 | $12,980 |
| $10,000 | $129,800 |
| $50,000 | $649,002 |
| $100,000 | $1,298,003 |
$100 from 1951, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1961 | $115.15 | 29.9 |
| 1971 | $155.99 | 40.5 |
| 1981 | $350.27 | 90.9 |
| 1991 | $524.65 | 136.2 |
| 2001 | $682.12 | 177.1 |
| 2011 | $866.54 | 224.9 |
| 2021 | $1,044 | 271.0 |
| September 2026 | $1,298 | 336.9 |
1951 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 6.0% in 1951 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #21 of 112 from highest to lowest.
- The 1950s averaged 2.2% a year, and 1951 was the decade’s highest.
- Prices first stood at twice their 1951 level in January 1975, and three times in February 1980.
- A dollar today buys what 7.7¢ bought in 1951.
CPI-U each month of 1951
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 25.400 |
| February | 25.700 |
| March | 25.800 |
| April | 25.800 |
| May | 25.900 |
| June | 25.900 |
| July | 25.900 |
| August | 25.900 |
| September | 26.100 |
| October | 26.200 |
| November | 26.400 |
| December | 26.500 |
| Year average | 25.958 |
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 1951 worth today?
$12.98 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1198.0% since 1951, using the 1951 average CPI-U of 25.958 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1951?
Prices rose 6.0% from December 1950 to December 1951 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1951?
3.47% a year, compounded, from 1951 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 20 years.
How much is $100 from 1951 worth today?
$1,298. Multiply any 1951 amount by 12.980 to get today’s money.