When did prices double after 1979?
By October 1993, prices were twice their 1979 average (CPI-U 72.6 → 145.2), 14 years later. They had tripled by June 2008.
What $1 from 1979 is worth today
$1 in 1979 = $4.64 in September 2026
$1 from 1979$4.64in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1979+364%CPI 72.6 → 336.9
Average a year3.30%compounded since 1979
Inflation in 197913.3%December to December
Worth in September 2026$464.26
Prices changed364.3%
Average a year3.30%
$100.00 in 1979 buys what $464.26 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 72.575 · 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
1979 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1979 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $4.64 |
| $5.00 | $23.21 |
| $10.00 | $46.43 |
| $20.00 | $92.85 |
| $50.00 | $232.13 |
| $100.00 | $464.26 |
| $500.00 | $2,321 |
| $1,000 | $4,643 |
| $10,000 | $46,426 |
| $50,000 | $232,132 |
| $100,000 | $464,265 |
$100 from 1979, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | $170.81 | 124.0 |
| 1999 | $229.52 | 166.6 |
| 2009 | $295.61 | 214.5 |
| 2019 | $352.27 | 255.7 |
| September 2026 | $464.26 | 336.9 |
1979 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 13.3% in 1979 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #5 of 112 from highest to lowest.
- The 1970s averaged 7.4% a year, and 1979 was the decade’s highest.
- Prices first stood at twice their 1979 level in October 1993, and three times in June 2008.
- A dollar today buys what 21.5¢ bought in 1979.
CPI-U each month of 1979
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 68.300 |
| February | 69.100 |
| March | 69.800 |
| April | 70.600 |
| May | 71.500 |
| June | 72.300 |
| July | 73.100 |
| August | 73.800 |
| September | 74.600 |
| October | 75.200 |
| November | 75.900 |
| December | 76.700 |
| Year average | 72.575 |
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 1979 worth today?
$4.64 in September 2026. Prices have risen 364.3% since 1979, using the 1979 average CPI-U of 72.575 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1979?
Prices rose 13.3% from December 1978 to December 1979 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1979?
3.30% a year, compounded, from 1979 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 21 years.
How much is $100 from 1979 worth today?
$464.26. Multiply any 1979 amount by 4.643 to get today’s money.