When did prices double after 1977?
By February 1989, prices were twice their 1977 average (CPI-U 60.6 → 121.2), 12 years later. They had tripled by February 2003.
What $1 from 1977 is worth today
$1 in 1977 = $5.56 in September 2026
$1 from 1977$5.56in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1977+456%CPI 60.6 → 336.9
Average a year3.54%compounded since 1977
Inflation in 19776.7%December to December
Worth in September 2026$555.93
Prices changed455.9%
Average a year3.54%
$100.00 in 1977 buys what $555.93 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 60.608 · 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
1977 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1977 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $5.56 |
| $5.00 | $27.80 |
| $10.00 | $55.59 |
| $20.00 | $111.19 |
| $50.00 | $277.97 |
| $100.00 | $555.93 |
| $500.00 | $2,780 |
| $1,000 | $5,559 |
| $10,000 | $55,593 |
| $50,000 | $277,965 |
| $100,000 | $555,930 |
$100 from 1977, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1987 | $187.47 | 113.6 |
| 1997 | $264.84 | 160.5 |
| 2007 | $342.10 | 207.3 |
| 2017 | $404.43 | 245.1 |
| September 2026 | $555.93 | 336.9 |
1977 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 6.7% in 1977 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #17 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 1977 level in February 1989, and three times in February 2003.
- A dollar today buys what 18.0¢ bought in 1977.
CPI-U each month of 1977
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 58.500 |
| February | 59.100 |
| March | 59.500 |
| April | 60.000 |
| May | 60.300 |
| June | 60.700 |
| July | 61.000 |
| August | 61.200 |
| September | 61.400 |
| October | 61.600 |
| November | 61.900 |
| December | 62.100 |
| Year average | 60.608 |
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 1977 worth today?
$5.56 in September 2026. Prices have risen 455.9% since 1977, using the 1977 average CPI-U of 60.608 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1977?
Prices rose 6.7% from December 1976 to December 1977 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1977?
3.54% a year, compounded, from 1977 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 20 years.
How much is $100 from 1977 worth today?
$555.93. Multiply any 1977 amount by 5.559 to get today’s money.