When did prices double after 1962?
By June 1977, prices were twice their 1962 average (CPI-U 30.2 → 60.5), 15 years later. They had tripled by July 1981.
What $1 from 1962 is worth today
$1 in 1962 = $11.14 in September 2026
$1 from 1962$11.14in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1962+1014%CPI 30.2 → 336.9
Average a year3.82%compounded since 1962
Inflation in 19621.3%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,113.85
Prices changed1013.9%
Average a year3.82%
$100.00 in 1962 buys what $1,113.85 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 30.250 · 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
1962 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1962 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $11.14 |
| $5.00 | $55.69 |
| $10.00 | $111.39 |
| $20.00 | $222.77 |
| $50.00 | $556.93 |
| $100.00 | $1,114 |
| $500.00 | $5,569 |
| $1,000 | $11,139 |
| $10,000 | $111,385 |
| $50,000 | $556,926 |
| $100,000 | $1,113,851 |
$100 from 1962, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1972 | $138.24 | 41.8 |
| 1982 | $319.01 | 96.5 |
| 1992 | $463.86 | 140.3 |
| 2002 | $594.63 | 179.9 |
| 2012 | $758.99 | 229.6 |
| 2022 | $967.45 | 292.7 |
| September 2026 | $1,114 | 336.9 |
1962 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 1.3% in 1962 (December to December), below the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #86 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 1962 level in June 1977, and three times in July 1981.
- A dollar today buys what 9.0¢ bought in 1962.
CPI-U each month of 1962
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 30.000 |
| February | 30.100 |
| March | 30.100 |
| April | 30.200 |
| May | 30.200 |
| June | 30.200 |
| July | 30.300 |
| August | 30.300 |
| September | 30.400 |
| October | 30.400 |
| November | 30.400 |
| December | 30.400 |
| Year average | 30.250 |
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 1962 worth today?
$11.14 in September 2026. Prices have risen 1013.9% since 1962, using the 1962 average CPI-U of 30.250 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1962?
Prices rose 1.3% from December 1961 to December 1962 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1962?
3.82% a year, compounded, from 1962 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 18 years.
How much is $100 from 1962 worth today?
$1,114. Multiply any 1962 amount by 11.139 to get today’s money.