When did prices double after 1959?
By January 1977, prices were twice their 1959 average (CPI-U 29.1 → 58.3), 18 years later. They had tripled by February 1981.
What $1 from 1959 is worth today
$1 in 1959 = $11.56 in September 2026
$1 from 1959$11.56in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1959+1056%CPI 29.1 → 336.9
Average a year3.71%compounded since 1959
Inflation in 19591.7%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,155.88
Prices changed1055.9%
Average a year3.71%
$100.00 in 1959 buys what $1,155.88 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 29.150 · 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
1959 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1959 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $11.56 |
| $5.00 | $57.79 |
| $10.00 | $115.59 |
| $20.00 | $231.18 |
| $50.00 | $577.94 |
| $100.00 | $1,156 |
| $500.00 | $5,779 |
| $1,000 | $11,559 |
| $10,000 | $115,588 |
| $50,000 | $577,942 |
| $100,000 | $1,155,883 |
$100 from 1959, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1969 | $125.84 | 36.7 |
| 1979 | $248.97 | 72.6 |
| 1989 | $425.27 | 124.0 |
| 1999 | $571.44 | 166.6 |
| 2009 | $735.98 | 214.5 |
| 2019 | $877.04 | 255.7 |
| September 2026 | $1,156 | 336.9 |
1959 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 1.7% in 1959 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #75 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 1959 level in January 1977, and three times in February 1981.
- A dollar today buys what 8.7¢ bought in 1959.
CPI-U each month of 1959
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 29.000 |
| February | 28.900 |
| March | 28.900 |
| April | 29.000 |
| May | 29.000 |
| June | 29.100 |
| July | 29.200 |
| August | 29.200 |
| September | 29.300 |
| October | 29.400 |
| November | 29.400 |
| December | 29.400 |
| Year average | 29.150 |
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 1959 worth today?
$11.56 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1055.9% since 1959, using the 1959 average CPI-U of 29.150 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1959?
Prices rose 1.7% from December 1958 to December 1959 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1959?
3.71% a year, compounded, from 1959 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 19 years.
How much is $100 from 1959 worth today?
$1,156. Multiply any 1959 amount by 11.559 to get today’s money.