When did prices double after 1982?
By March 2005, prices were twice their 1982 average (CPI-U 96.5 → 193.0), 23 years later. They had tripled by May 2022.
What $1 from 1982 is worth today
$1 in 1982 = $3.49 in September 2026
$1 from 1982$3.49in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1982+249%CPI 96.5 → 336.9
Average a year2.87%compounded since 1982
Inflation in 19823.8%December to December
Worth in September 2026$349.16
Prices changed249.2%
Average a year2.87%
$100.00 in 1982 buys what $349.16 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 96.500 · 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
1982 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1982 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $3.49 |
| $5.00 | $17.46 |
| $10.00 | $34.92 |
| $20.00 | $69.83 |
| $50.00 | $174.58 |
| $100.00 | $349.16 |
| $500.00 | $1,746 |
| $1,000 | $3,492 |
| $10,000 | $34,916 |
| $50,000 | $174,580 |
| $100,000 | $349,161 |
$100 from 1982, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1992 | $145.41 | 140.3 |
| 2002 | $186.40 | 179.9 |
| 2012 | $237.92 | 229.6 |
| 2022 | $303.27 | 292.7 |
| September 2026 | $349.16 | 336.9 |
1982 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 3.8% in 1982 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #31 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 1982 level in March 2005, and three times in May 2022.
- A dollar today buys what 28.6¢ bought in 1982.
CPI-U each month of 1982
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 94.300 |
| February | 94.600 |
| March | 94.500 |
| April | 94.900 |
| May | 95.800 |
| June | 97.000 |
| July | 97.500 |
| August | 97.700 |
| September | 97.900 |
| October | 98.200 |
| November | 98.000 |
| December | 97.600 |
| Year average | 96.500 |
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 1982 worth today?
$3.49 in September 2026. Prices have risen 249.2% since 1982, using the 1982 average CPI-U of 96.500 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1982?
Prices rose 3.8% from December 1981 to December 1982 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1982?
2.87% a year, compounded, from 1982 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 25 years.
How much is $100 from 1982 worth today?
$349.16. Multiply any 1982 amount by 3.492 to get today’s money.