When did prices double after 1971?
By April 1980, prices were twice their 1971 average (CPI-U 40.5 → 81.0), 9 years later. They had tripled by February 1989.
What $1 from 1971 is worth today
$1 in 1971 = $8.32 in September 2026
$1 from 1971$8.32in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1971+732%CPI 40.5 → 336.9
Average a year3.91%compounded since 1971
Inflation in 19713.3%December to December
Worth in September 2026$832.12
Prices changed732.1%
Average a year3.91%
$100.00 in 1971 buys what $832.12 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 40.492 · 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
1971 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1971 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $8.32 |
| $5.00 | $41.61 |
| $10.00 | $83.21 |
| $20.00 | $166.42 |
| $50.00 | $416.06 |
| $100.00 | $832.12 |
| $500.00 | $4,161 |
| $1,000 | $8,321 |
| $10,000 | $83,212 |
| $50,000 | $416,061 |
| $100,000 | $832,122 |
$100 from 1971, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $224.55 | 90.9 |
| 1991 | $336.34 | 136.2 |
| 2001 | $437.29 | 177.1 |
| 2011 | $555.52 | 224.9 |
| 2021 | $669.20 | 271.0 |
| September 2026 | $832.12 | 336.9 |
1971 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 3.3% in 1971 (December to December), about the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #41 of 112 from highest to lowest.
- The 1970s averaged 7.4% a year; the decade’s highest was 1979 at 13.3%.
- Prices first stood at twice their 1971 level in April 1980, and three times in February 1989.
- A dollar today buys what 12.0¢ bought in 1971.
CPI-U each month of 1971
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 39.800 |
| February | 39.900 |
| March | 40.000 |
| April | 40.100 |
| May | 40.300 |
| June | 40.600 |
| July | 40.700 |
| August | 40.800 |
| September | 40.800 |
| October | 40.900 |
| November | 40.900 |
| December | 41.100 |
| Year average | 40.492 |
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 1971 worth today?
$8.32 in September 2026. Prices have risen 732.1% since 1971, using the 1971 average CPI-U of 40.492 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1971?
Prices rose 3.3% from December 1970 to December 1971 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1971?
3.91% a year, compounded, from 1971 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 18 years.
How much is $100 from 1971 worth today?
$832.12. Multiply any 1971 amount by 8.321 to get today’s money.