When did prices double after 1972?
By September 1980, prices were twice their 1972 average (CPI-U 41.8 → 83.6), 8 years later. They had tripled by October 1989.
What $1 from 1972 is worth today
$1 in 1972 = $8.06 in September 2026
$1 from 1972$8.06in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1972+706%CPI 41.8 → 336.9
Average a year3.92%compounded since 1972
Inflation in 19723.4%December to December
Worth in September 2026$805.76
Prices changed705.8%
Average a year3.92%
$100.00 in 1972 buys what $805.76 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 41.817 · 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
1972 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1972 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $8.06 |
| $5.00 | $40.29 |
| $10.00 | $80.58 |
| $20.00 | $161.15 |
| $50.00 | $402.88 |
| $100.00 | $805.76 |
| $500.00 | $4,029 |
| $1,000 | $8,058 |
| $10,000 | $80,576 |
| $50,000 | $402,878 |
| $100,000 | $805,755 |
$100 from 1972, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1982 | $230.77 | 96.5 |
| 1992 | $335.55 | 140.3 |
| 2002 | $430.15 | 179.9 |
| 2012 | $549.05 | 229.6 |
| 2022 | $699.85 | 292.7 |
| September 2026 | $805.76 | 336.9 |
1972 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 3.4% in 1972 (December to December), about the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #37 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 1972 level in September 1980, and three times in October 1989.
- A dollar today buys what 12.4¢ bought in 1972.
CPI-U each month of 1972
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 41.100 |
| February | 41.300 |
| March | 41.400 |
| April | 41.500 |
| May | 41.600 |
| June | 41.700 |
| July | 41.900 |
| August | 42.000 |
| September | 42.100 |
| October | 42.300 |
| November | 42.400 |
| December | 42.500 |
| Year average | 41.817 |
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 1972 worth today?
$8.06 in September 2026. Prices have risen 705.8% since 1972, using the 1972 average CPI-U of 41.817 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1972?
Prices rose 3.4% from December 1971 to December 1972 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1972?
3.92% a year, compounded, from 1972 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 18 years.
How much is $100 from 1972 worth today?
$805.76. Multiply any 1972 amount by 8.058 to get today’s money.