When did prices double after 1966?
By June 1978, prices were twice their 1966 average (CPI-U 32.5 → 64.9), 12 years later. They had tripled by July 1982.
What $1 from 1966 is worth today
$1 in 1966 = $10.38 in September 2026
$1 from 1966$10.38in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1966+938%CPI 32.5 → 336.9
Average a year3.96%compounded since 1966
Inflation in 19663.5%December to December
Worth in September 2026$1,038.07
Prices changed938.1%
Average a year3.96%
$100.00 in 1966 buys what $1,038.07 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 32.458 · 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
1966 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1966 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $10.38 |
| $5.00 | $51.90 |
| $10.00 | $103.81 |
| $20.00 | $207.61 |
| $50.00 | $519.03 |
| $100.00 | $1,038 |
| $500.00 | $5,190 |
| $1,000 | $10,381 |
| $10,000 | $103,807 |
| $50,000 | $519,035 |
| $100,000 | $1,038,069 |
$100 from 1966, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | $175.33 | 56.9 |
| 1986 | $337.69 | 109.6 |
| 1996 | $483.23 | 156.8 |
| 2006 | $621.08 | 201.6 |
| 2016 | $739.43 | 240.0 |
| September 2026 | $1,038 | 336.9 |
1966 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 3.5% in 1966 (December to December), about the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #35 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 1966 level in June 1978, and three times in July 1982.
- A dollar today buys what 9.6¢ bought in 1966.
CPI-U each month of 1966
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 31.800 |
| February | 32.000 |
| March | 32.100 |
| April | 32.300 |
| May | 32.300 |
| June | 32.400 |
| July | 32.500 |
| August | 32.700 |
| September | 32.700 |
| October | 32.900 |
| November | 32.900 |
| December | 32.900 |
| Year average | 32.458 |
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 1966 worth today?
$10.38 in September 2026. Prices have risen 938.1% since 1966, using the 1966 average CPI-U of 32.458 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1966?
Prices rose 3.5% from December 1965 to December 1966 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1966?
3.96% a year, compounded, from 1966 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 18 years.
How much is $100 from 1966 worth today?
$1,038. Multiply any 1966 amount by 10.381 to get today’s money.