When did prices double after 1976?
By August 1987, prices were twice their 1976 average (CPI-U 56.9 → 113.8), 11 years later. They had tripled by March 2000.
What $1 from 1976 is worth today
$1 in 1976 = $5.92 in September 2026
$1 from 1976$5.92in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1976+492%CPI 56.9 → 336.9
Average a year3.60%compounded since 1976
Inflation in 19764.9%December to December
Worth in September 2026$592.07
Prices changed492.1%
Average a year3.60%
$100.00 in 1976 buys what $592.07 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 56.908 · 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
1976 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1976 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $5.92 |
| $5.00 | $29.60 |
| $10.00 | $59.21 |
| $20.00 | $118.41 |
| $50.00 | $296.04 |
| $100.00 | $592.07 |
| $500.00 | $2,960 |
| $1,000 | $5,921 |
| $10,000 | $59,207 |
| $50,000 | $296,037 |
| $100,000 | $592,075 |
$100 from 1976, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | $192.61 | 109.6 |
| 1996 | $275.62 | 156.8 |
| 2006 | $354.24 | 201.6 |
| 2016 | $421.74 | 240.0 |
| September 2026 | $592.07 | 336.9 |
1976 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 4.9% in 1976 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #24 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 1976 level in August 1987, and three times in March 2000.
- A dollar today buys what 16.9¢ bought in 1976.
CPI-U each month of 1976
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 55.600 |
| February | 55.800 |
| March | 55.900 |
| April | 56.100 |
| May | 56.500 |
| June | 56.800 |
| July | 57.100 |
| August | 57.400 |
| September | 57.600 |
| October | 57.900 |
| November | 58.000 |
| December | 58.200 |
| Year average | 56.908 |
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 1976 worth today?
$5.92 in September 2026. Prices have risen 492.1% since 1976, using the 1976 average CPI-U of 56.908 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1976?
Prices rose 4.9% from December 1975 to December 1976 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1976?
3.60% a year, compounded, from 1976 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 20 years.
How much is $100 from 1976 worth today?
$592.07. Multiply any 1976 amount by 5.921 to get today’s money.