When did prices double after 1981?
By February 2003, prices were twice their 1981 average (CPI-U 90.9 → 181.8), 22 years later. They had tripled by July 2021.
What $1 from 1981 is worth today
$1 in 1981 = $3.71 in September 2026
$1 from 1981$3.71in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1981+271%CPI 90.9 → 336.9
Average a year2.94%compounded since 1981
Inflation in 19818.9%December to December
Worth in September 2026$370.57
Prices changed270.6%
Average a year2.94%
$100.00 in 1981 buys what $370.57 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 90.925 · 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
1981 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1981 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $3.71 |
| $5.00 | $18.53 |
| $10.00 | $37.06 |
| $20.00 | $74.11 |
| $50.00 | $185.28 |
| $100.00 | $370.57 |
| $500.00 | $1,853 |
| $1,000 | $3,706 |
| $10,000 | $37,057 |
| $50,000 | $185,285 |
| $100,000 | $370,569 |
$100 from 1981, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1991 | $149.78 | 136.2 |
| 2001 | $194.74 | 177.1 |
| 2011 | $247.39 | 224.9 |
| 2021 | $298.01 | 271.0 |
| September 2026 | $370.57 | 336.9 |
1981 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 8.9% in 1981 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #12 of 112 from highest to lowest.
- The 1980s averaged 5.1% a year; the decade’s highest was 1980 at 12.5%.
- Prices first stood at twice their 1981 level in February 2003, and three times in July 2021.
- A dollar today buys what 27.0¢ bought in 1981.
CPI-U each month of 1981
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 87.000 |
| February | 87.900 |
| March | 88.500 |
| April | 89.100 |
| May | 89.800 |
| June | 90.600 |
| July | 91.600 |
| August | 92.300 |
| September | 93.200 |
| October | 93.400 |
| November | 93.700 |
| December | 94.000 |
| Year average | 90.925 |
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 1981 worth today?
$3.71 in September 2026. Prices have risen 270.6% since 1981, using the 1981 average CPI-U of 90.925 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1981?
Prices rose 8.9% from December 1980 to December 1981 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1981?
2.94% a year, compounded, from 1981 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 24 years.
How much is $100 from 1981 worth today?
$370.57. Multiply any 1981 amount by 3.706 to get today’s money.