When did prices double after 1961?
By April 1977, prices were twice their 1961 average (CPI-U 29.9 → 59.8), 16 years later. They had tripled by May 1981.
What $1 from 1961 is worth today
$1 in 1961 = $11.27 in September 2026
$1 from 1961$11.27in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1961+1027%CPI 29.9 → 336.9
Average a year3.78%compounded since 1961
Inflation in 19610.7%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,127.20
Prices changed1027.2%
Average a year3.78%
$100.00 in 1961 buys what $1,127.20 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 29.892 · 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
1961 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1961 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $11.27 |
| $5.00 | $56.36 |
| $10.00 | $112.72 |
| $20.00 | $225.44 |
| $50.00 | $563.60 |
| $100.00 | $1,127 |
| $500.00 | $5,636 |
| $1,000 | $11,272 |
| $10,000 | $112,720 |
| $50,000 | $563,602 |
| $100,000 | $1,127,204 |
$100 from 1961, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | $135.46 | 40.5 |
| 1981 | $304.18 | 90.9 |
| 1991 | $455.62 | 136.2 |
| 2001 | $592.36 | 177.1 |
| 2011 | $752.51 | 224.9 |
| 2021 | $906.51 | 271.0 |
| September 2026 | $1,127 | 336.9 |
1961 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 0.7% in 1961 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #96 of 112 from highest to lowest.
- The 1960s averaged 2.5% a year; the decade’s highest was 1969 at 6.2%.
- Prices first stood at twice their 1961 level in April 1977, and three times in May 1981.
- A dollar today buys what 8.9¢ bought in 1961.
CPI-U each month of 1961
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 29.800 |
| February | 29.800 |
| March | 29.800 |
| April | 29.800 |
| May | 29.800 |
| June | 29.800 |
| July | 30.000 |
| August | 29.900 |
| September | 30.000 |
| October | 30.000 |
| November | 30.000 |
| December | 30.000 |
| Year average | 29.892 |
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 1961 worth today?
$11.27 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1027.2% since 1961, using the 1961 average CPI-U of 29.892 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1961?
Prices rose 0.7% from December 1960 to December 1961 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1961?
3.78% a year, compounded, from 1961 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 19 years.
How much is $100 from 1961 worth today?
$1,127. Multiply any 1961 amount by 11.272 to get today’s money.