When did prices double after 1956?
By September 1975, prices were twice their 1956 average (CPI-U 27.2 → 54.4), 19 years later. They had tripled by May 1980.
What $1 from 1956 is worth today
$1 in 1956 = $12.40 in September 2026
$1 from 1956$12.40in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1956+1140%CPI 27.2 → 336.9
Average a year3.65%compounded since 1956
Inflation in 19563.0%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,239.51
Prices changed1139.5%
Average a year3.65%
$100.00 in 1956 buys what $1,239.51 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 27.183 · 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
1956 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1956 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $12.40 |
| $5.00 | $61.98 |
| $10.00 | $123.95 |
| $20.00 | $247.90 |
| $50.00 | $619.75 |
| $100.00 | $1,240 |
| $500.00 | $6,198 |
| $1,000 | $12,395 |
| $10,000 | $123,951 |
| $50,000 | $619,755 |
| $100,000 | $1,239,510 |
$100 from 1956, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | $119.41 | 32.5 |
| 1976 | $209.35 | 56.9 |
| 1986 | $403.22 | 109.6 |
| 1996 | $577.01 | 156.8 |
| 2006 | $741.60 | 201.6 |
| 2016 | $882.92 | 240.0 |
| September 2026 | $1,240 | 336.9 |
1956 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 3.0% in 1956 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #46 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 1956 level in September 1975, and three times in May 1980.
- A dollar today buys what 8.1¢ bought in 1956.
CPI-U each month of 1956
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 26.800 |
| February | 26.800 |
| March | 26.800 |
| April | 26.900 |
| May | 27.000 |
| June | 27.200 |
| July | 27.400 |
| August | 27.300 |
| September | 27.400 |
| October | 27.500 |
| November | 27.500 |
| December | 27.600 |
| Year average | 27.183 |
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 1956 worth today?
$12.40 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1139.5% since 1956, using the 1956 average CPI-U of 27.183 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1956?
Prices rose 3.0% from December 1955 to December 1956 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1956?
3.65% a year, compounded, from 1956 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 19 years.
How much is $100 from 1956 worth today?
$1,240. Multiply any 1956 amount by 12.395 to get today’s money.