When did prices double after 1955?
By June 1975, prices were twice their 1955 average (CPI-U 26.8 → 53.6), 20 years later. They had tripled by April 1980.
What $1 from 1955 is worth today
$1 in 1955 = $12.58 in September 2026
$1 from 1955$12.58in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1955+1158%CPI 26.8 → 336.9
Average a year3.62%compounded since 1955
Inflation in 19550.4%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,258.41
Prices changed1158.4%
Average a year3.62%
$100.00 in 1955 buys what $1,258.41 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 26.775 · 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
1955 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1955 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $12.58 |
| $5.00 | $62.92 |
| $10.00 | $125.84 |
| $20.00 | $251.68 |
| $50.00 | $629.21 |
| $100.00 | $1,258 |
| $500.00 | $6,292 |
| $1,000 | $12,584 |
| $10,000 | $125,841 |
| $50,000 | $629,206 |
| $100,000 | $1,258,413 |
$100 from 1955, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1965 | $117.68 | 31.5 |
| 1975 | $201.00 | 53.8 |
| 1985 | $401.74 | 107.6 |
| 1995 | $569.13 | 152.4 |
| 2005 | $729.38 | 195.3 |
| 2015 | $885.22 | 237.0 |
| 2025 | $1,202 | 321.9 |
| September 2026 | $1,258 | 336.9 |
1955 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 0.4% in 1955 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #98 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 1955 level in June 1975, and three times in April 1980.
- A dollar today buys what 7.9¢ bought in 1955.
CPI-U each month of 1955
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 26.700 |
| February | 26.700 |
| March | 26.700 |
| April | 26.700 |
| May | 26.700 |
| June | 26.700 |
| July | 26.800 |
| August | 26.800 |
| September | 26.900 |
| October | 26.900 |
| November | 26.900 |
| December | 26.800 |
| Year average | 26.775 |
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 1955 worth today?
$12.58 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1158.4% since 1955, using the 1955 average CPI-U of 26.775 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1955?
Prices rose 0.4% from December 1954 to December 1955 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1955?
3.62% a year, compounded, from 1955 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 20 years.
How much is $100 from 1955 worth today?
$1,258. Multiply any 1955 amount by 12.584 to get today’s money.