When did prices double after 1983?
By March 2006, prices were twice their 1983 average (CPI-U 99.6 → 199.2), 23 years later. They had tripled by January 2023.
What $1 from 1983 is worth today
$1 in 1983 = $3.38 in September 2026
$1 from 1983$3.38in September 2026 dollars
Prices since 1983+238%CPI 99.6 → 336.9
Average a year2.86%compounded since 1983
Inflation in 19833.8%December to December
Worth in September 2026$338.29
Prices changed238.3%
Average a year2.86%
$100.00 in 1983 buys what $338.29 buys in September 2026.$100.00 × CPI 336.940 ÷ CPI 99.600 · 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
1983 dollars in September 2026 dollars
| In 1983 | In September 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $3.38 |
| $5.00 | $16.91 |
| $10.00 | $33.83 |
| $20.00 | $67.66 |
| $50.00 | $169.15 |
| $100.00 | $338.29 |
| $500.00 | $1,691 |
| $1,000 | $3,383 |
| $10,000 | $33,829 |
| $50,000 | $169,147 |
| $100,000 | $338,293 |
$100 from 1983, decade by decade
| Year | Worth | Average CPI |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | $145.04 | 144.5 |
| 2003 | $184.70 | 184.0 |
| 2013 | $233.89 | 233.0 |
| 2023 | $305.93 | 304.7 |
| September 2026 | $338.29 | 336.9 |
1983 in the inflation record
- Prices rose 3.8% in 1983 (December to December), above the 3.3% average of every year since 1914: #33 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 1983 level in March 2006, and three times in January 2023.
- A dollar today buys what 29.6¢ bought in 1983.
CPI-U each month of 1983
| Month | CPI-U |
|---|---|
| January | 97.800 |
| February | 97.900 |
| March | 97.900 |
| April | 98.600 |
| May | 99.200 |
| June | 99.500 |
| July | 99.900 |
| August | 100.200 |
| September | 100.700 |
| October | 101.000 |
| November | 101.200 |
| December | 101.300 |
| Year average | 99.600 |
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 1983 worth today?
$3.38 in September 2026. Prices have risen 238.3% since 1983, using the 1983 average CPI-U of 99.600 and the September 2026 CPI-U of 336.940 from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
What was the inflation rate in 1983?
Prices rose 3.8% from December 1982 to December 1983 (CPI-U, not seasonally adjusted).
What is the average inflation rate since 1983?
2.86% a year, compounded, from 1983 to September 2026. At that rate prices double about every 25 years.
How much is $100 from 1983 worth today?
$338.29. Multiply any 1983 amount by 3.383 to get today’s money.