When did prices double after 1980?
By March 1999, prices were twice their 1980 average (CPI-U 82.4 → 164.8), 19 years later. They had tripled by January 2018.
What $1 from 1980 is worth today
$1 in 1980 = $4.09 in September 2026
$1 from 1980$4.09in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1980+309%CPI 82.4 → 336.9
Average a year3.09%compounded since 1980
Inflation in 198012.5%December to December
Worth in September 2026$408.87
Prices changed308.9%
Average a year3.09%
$100.00 in 1980 buys what $408.87 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 82.408 · 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
1980 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1980 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $4.09 |
| $5.00 | $20.44 |
| $10.00 | $40.89 |
| $20.00 | $81.77 |
| $50.00 | $204.43 |
| $100.00 | $408.87 |
| $500.00 | $2,044 |
| $1,000 | $4,089 |
| $10,000 | $40,887 |
| $50,000 | $204,433 |
| $100,000 | $408,866 |
$100 from 1980, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1990 | $158.55 | 130.7 |
| 2000 | $208.96 | 172.2 |
| 2010 | $264.60 | 218.1 |
| 2020 | $314.06 | 258.8 |
| September 2026 | $408.87 | 336.9 |
1980 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 12.5% in 1980 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #7 of 112 from highest to lowest.
- The 1980s averaged 5.1% a year, and 1980 was the decade’s highest.
- Prices first stood at twice their 1980 level in March 1999, and three times in January 2018.
- A dollar today buys what 24.5¢ bought in 1980.
CPI-U each month of 1980
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 77.800 |
| February | 78.900 |
| March | 80.100 |
| April | 81.000 |
| May | 81.800 |
| June | 82.700 |
| July | 82.700 |
| August | 83.300 |
| September | 84.000 |
| October | 84.800 |
| November | 85.500 |
| December | 86.300 |
| Year average | 82.408 |
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 1980 worth today?
$4.09 in September 2026. Prices have risen 308.9% since 1980, using the 1980 average CPI-U of 82.408 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1980?
Prices rose 12.5% from December 1979 to December 1980 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1980?
3.09% a year, compounded, from 1980 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 23 years.
How much is $100 from 1980 worth today?
$408.87. Multiply any 1980 amount by 4.089 to get today’s money.