When did prices double after 1957?
By May 1976, prices were twice their 1957 average (CPI-U 28.1 → 56.2), 19 years later. They had tripled by October 1980.
What $1 from 1957 is worth today
$1 in 1957 = $11.99 in September 2026
$1 from 1957$11.99in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1957+1099%CPI 28.1 → 336.9
Average a year3.65%compounded since 1957
Inflation in 19572.9%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,199.43
Prices changed1099.4%
Average a year3.65%
$100.00 in 1957 buys what $1,199.43 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 28.092 · 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
1957 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1957 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $11.99 |
| $5.00 | $59.97 |
| $10.00 | $119.94 |
| $20.00 | $239.89 |
| $50.00 | $599.72 |
| $100.00 | $1,199 |
| $500.00 | $5,997 |
| $1,000 | $11,994 |
| $10,000 | $119,943 |
| $50,000 | $599,715 |
| $100,000 | $1,199,430 |
$100 from 1957, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | $118.75 | 33.4 |
| 1977 | $215.75 | 60.6 |
| 1987 | $404.48 | 113.6 |
| 1997 | $571.40 | 160.5 |
| 2007 | $738.09 | 207.3 |
| 2017 | $872.57 | 245.1 |
| September 2026 | $1,199 | 336.9 |
1957 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 2.9% in 1957 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #51 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 1957 level in May 1976, and three times in October 1980.
- A dollar today buys what 8.3¢ bought in 1957.
CPI-U each month of 1957
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 27.600 |
| February | 27.700 |
| March | 27.800 |
| April | 27.900 |
| May | 28.000 |
| June | 28.100 |
| July | 28.300 |
| August | 28.300 |
| September | 28.300 |
| October | 28.300 |
| November | 28.400 |
| December | 28.400 |
| Year average | 28.092 |
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 1957 worth today?
$11.99 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1099.4% since 1957, using the 1957 average CPI-U of 28.092 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1957?
Prices rose 2.9% from December 1956 to December 1957 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1957?
3.65% a year, compounded, from 1957 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 19 years.
How much is $100 from 1957 worth today?
$1,199. Multiply any 1957 amount by 11.994 to get today’s money.