When did prices double after 1973?
By April 1981, prices were twice their 1973 average (CPI-U 44.4 → 88.8), 8 years later. They had tripled by October 1990.
What $1 from 1973 is worth today
$1 in 1973 = $7.59 in September 2026
$1 from 1973$7.59in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1973+659%CPI 44.4 → 336.9
Average a year3.88%compounded since 1973
Inflation in 19738.7%December to December
Worth in September 2026$758.87
Prices changed658.9%
Average a year3.88%
$100.00 in 1973 buys what $758.87 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 44.400 · 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
1973 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1973 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $7.59 |
| $5.00 | $37.94 |
| $10.00 | $75.89 |
| $20.00 | $151.77 |
| $50.00 | $379.44 |
| $100.00 | $758.87 |
| $500.00 | $3,794 |
| $1,000 | $7,589 |
| $10,000 | $75,887 |
| $50,000 | $379,437 |
| $100,000 | $758,874 |
$100 from 1973, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1983 | $224.32 | 99.6 |
| 1993 | $325.36 | 144.5 |
| 2003 | $414.32 | 184.0 |
| 2013 | $524.68 | 233.0 |
| 2023 | $686.26 | 304.7 |
| September 2026 | $758.87 | 336.9 |
1973 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 8.7% in 1973 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #14 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 1973 level in April 1981, and three times in October 1990.
- A dollar today buys what 13.2¢ bought in 1973.
CPI-U each month of 1973
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 42.600 |
| February | 42.900 |
| March | 43.300 |
| April | 43.600 |
| May | 43.900 |
| June | 44.200 |
| July | 44.300 |
| August | 45.100 |
| September | 45.200 |
| October | 45.600 |
| November | 45.900 |
| December | 46.200 |
| Year average | 44.400 |
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 1973 worth today?
$7.59 in September 2026. Prices have risen 658.9% since 1973, using the 1973 average CPI-U of 44.400 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1973?
Prices rose 8.7% from December 1972 to December 1973 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1973?
3.88% a year, compounded, from 1973 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 18 years.
How much is $100 from 1973 worth today?
$758.87. Multiply any 1973 amount by 7.589 to get today’s money.