When did prices double after 1968?
By March 1979, prices were twice their 1968 average (CPI-U 34.8 → 69.6), 11 years later. They had tripled by August 1984.
What $1 from 1968 is worth today
$1 in 1968 = $9.69 in September 2026
$1 from 1968$9.69in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1968+869%CPI 34.8 → 336.9
Average a year3.98%compounded since 1968
Inflation in 19684.7%December to December
Worth in September 2026$968.68
Prices changed868.7%
Average a year3.98%
$100.00 in 1968 buys what $968.68 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 34.783 · 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
1968 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1968 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $9.69 |
| $5.00 | $48.43 |
| $10.00 | $96.87 |
| $20.00 | $193.74 |
| $50.00 | $484.34 |
| $100.00 | $968.68 |
| $500.00 | $4,843 |
| $1,000 | $9,687 |
| $10,000 | $96,868 |
| $50,000 | $484,341 |
| $100,000 | $968,682 |
$100 from 1968, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $187.54 | 65.2 |
| 1988 | $339.99 | 118.3 |
| 1998 | $468.64 | 163.0 |
| 2008 | $618.98 | 215.3 |
| 2018 | $721.92 | 251.1 |
| September 2026 | $968.68 | 336.9 |
1968 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 4.7% in 1968 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #25 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 1968 level in March 1979, and three times in August 1984.
- A dollar today buys what 10.3¢ bought in 1968.
CPI-U each month of 1968
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 34.100 |
| February | 34.200 |
| March | 34.300 |
| April | 34.400 |
| May | 34.500 |
| June | 34.700 |
| July | 34.900 |
| August | 35.000 |
| September | 35.100 |
| October | 35.300 |
| November | 35.400 |
| December | 35.500 |
| Year average | 34.783 |
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 1968 worth today?
$9.69 in September 2026. Prices have risen 868.7% since 1968, using the 1968 average CPI-U of 34.783 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1968?
Prices rose 4.7% from December 1967 to December 1968 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1968?
3.98% a year, compounded, from 1968 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 18 years.
How much is $100 from 1968 worth today?
$968.68. Multiply any 1968 amount by 9.687 to get today’s money.