When did prices double after 1953?
By June 1975, prices were twice their 1953 average (CPI-U 26.8 → 53.5), 22 years later. They had tripled by April 1980.
What $1 from 1953 is worth today
$1 in 1953 = $12.59 in September 2026
$1 from 1953$12.59in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1953+1159%CPI 26.8 → 336.9
Average a year3.52%compounded since 1953
Inflation in 19530.7%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,258.80
Prices changed1158.8%
Average a year3.52%
$100.00 in 1953 buys what $1,258.80 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 26.767 · 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
1953 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1953 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $12.59 |
| $5.00 | $62.94 |
| $10.00 | $125.88 |
| $20.00 | $251.76 |
| $50.00 | $629.40 |
| $100.00 | $1,259 |
| $500.00 | $6,294 |
| $1,000 | $12,588 |
| $10,000 | $125,880 |
| $50,000 | $629,402 |
| $100,000 | $1,258,804 |
$100 from 1953, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | $114.41 | 30.6 |
| 1973 | $165.88 | 44.4 |
| 1983 | $372.10 | 99.6 |
| 1993 | $539.69 | 144.5 |
| 2003 | $687.27 | 184.0 |
| 2013 | $870.33 | 233.0 |
| 2023 | $1,138 | 304.7 |
| September 2026 | $1,259 | 336.9 |
1953 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 0.7% in 1953 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #93 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 1953 level in June 1975, and three times in April 1980.
- A dollar today buys what 7.9¢ bought in 1953.
CPI-U each month of 1953
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 26.600 |
| February | 26.500 |
| March | 26.600 |
| April | 26.600 |
| May | 26.700 |
| June | 26.800 |
| July | 26.800 |
| August | 26.900 |
| September | 26.900 |
| October | 27.000 |
| November | 26.900 |
| December | 26.900 |
| Year average | 26.767 |
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 1953 worth today?
$12.59 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1158.8% since 1953, using the 1953 average CPI-U of 26.767 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1953?
Prices rose 0.7% from December 1952 to December 1953 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1953?
3.52% a year, compounded, from 1953 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 20 years.
How much is $100 from 1953 worth today?
$1,259. Multiply any 1953 amount by 12.588 to get today’s money.