When did prices double after 1952?
By May 1975, prices were twice their 1952 average (CPI-U 26.5 → 53.1), 23 years later. They had tripled by March 1980.
What $1 from 1952 is worth today
$1 in 1952 = $12.69 in September 2026
$1 from 1952$12.69in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1952+1169%CPI 26.5 → 336.9
Average a year3.48%compounded since 1952
Inflation in 19520.8%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,269.08
Prices changed1169.1%
Average a year3.48%
$100.00 in 1952 buys what $1,269.08 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 26.550 · 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
1952 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1952 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $12.69 |
| $5.00 | $63.45 |
| $10.00 | $126.91 |
| $20.00 | $253.82 |
| $50.00 | $634.54 |
| $100.00 | $1,269 |
| $500.00 | $6,345 |
| $1,000 | $12,691 |
| $10,000 | $126,908 |
| $50,000 | $634,539 |
| $100,000 | $1,269,077 |
$100 from 1952, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1962 | $113.94 | 30.2 |
| 1972 | $157.50 | 41.8 |
| 1982 | $363.47 | 96.5 |
| 1992 | $528.50 | 140.3 |
| 2002 | $677.50 | 179.9 |
| 2012 | $864.76 | 229.6 |
| 2022 | $1,102 | 292.7 |
| September 2026 | $1,269 | 336.9 |
1952 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 0.8% in 1952 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #92 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 1952 level in May 1975, and three times in March 1980.
- A dollar today buys what 7.9¢ bought in 1952.
CPI-U each month of 1952
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 26.500 |
| February | 26.300 |
| March | 26.300 |
| April | 26.400 |
| May | 26.400 |
| June | 26.500 |
| July | 26.700 |
| August | 26.700 |
| September | 26.700 |
| October | 26.700 |
| November | 26.700 |
| December | 26.700 |
| Year average | 26.550 |
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 1952 worth today?
$12.69 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1169.1% since 1952, using the 1952 average CPI-U of 26.550 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1952?
Prices rose 0.8% from December 1951 to December 1952 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1952?
3.48% a year, compounded, from 1952 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 20 years.
How much is $100 from 1952 worth today?
$1,269. Multiply any 1952 amount by 12.691 to get today’s money.