When did prices double after 1974?
By May 1983, prices were twice their 1974 average (CPI-U 49.3 → 98.6), 9 years later. They had tripled by June 1994.
What $1 from 1974 is worth today
$1 in 1974 = $6.83 in September 2026
$1 from 1974$6.83in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1974+583%CPI 49.3 → 336.9
Average a year3.75%compounded since 1974
Inflation in 197412.3%December to December
Worth in September 2026$683.33
Prices changed583.3%
Average a year3.75%
$100.00 in 1974 buys what $683.33 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 49.308 · 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
1974 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1974 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $6.83 |
| $5.00 | $34.17 |
| $10.00 | $68.33 |
| $20.00 | $136.67 |
| $50.00 | $341.67 |
| $100.00 | $683.33 |
| $500.00 | $3,417 |
| $1,000 | $6,833 |
| $10,000 | $68,333 |
| $50,000 | $341,666 |
| $100,000 | $683,333 |
$100 from 1974, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1984 | $210.68 | 103.9 |
| 1994 | $300.61 | 148.2 |
| 2004 | $383.07 | 188.9 |
| 2014 | $480.11 | 236.7 |
| 2024 | $636.18 | 313.7 |
| September 2026 | $683.33 | 336.9 |
1974 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 12.3% in 1974 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #8 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 1974 level in May 1983, and three times in June 1994.
- A dollar today buys what 14.6¢ bought in 1974.
CPI-U each month of 1974
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 46.600 |
| February | 47.200 |
| March | 47.800 |
| April | 48.000 |
| May | 48.600 |
| June | 49.000 |
| July | 49.400 |
| August | 50.000 |
| September | 50.600 |
| October | 51.100 |
| November | 51.500 |
| December | 51.900 |
| Year average | 49.308 |
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 1974 worth today?
$6.83 in September 2026. Prices have risen 583.3% since 1974, using the 1974 average CPI-U of 49.308 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1974?
Prices rose 12.3% from December 1973 to December 1974 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1974?
3.75% a year, compounded, from 1974 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 19 years.
How much is $100 from 1974 worth today?
$683.33. Multiply any 1974 amount by 6.833 to get today’s money.