U.S. inflation · 1948–2026
$100 in 1948 has the same buying power as
$1,372
in 2026
| Cumulative price change | 1272.3% |
|---|---|
| Average inflation rate | 3.41% per year |
| Converted amount ($100 base) | $1,372 |
| Price difference ($100 base) | $1,272 |
| CPI in 1948 | 24.1 |
| CPI in 2026 | 330.724 |
| Inflation in 1948 | 8.07% |
| Inflation in 2026 | 2.73% |
| $100 in 1948 → 2026 | $1,372 |
| $100 in 2026 → 1948 | $7.29 |
Uses a partial-year average for the current year; updates with each CPI release.
Between 1948 and 2026, the Consumer Price Index went from 24.1 to 330.724. Cumulatively, prices increased 1272.3%, which works out to an average of 3.41% per year. Put differently, a dollar in 1948 bought what $0.07 buys in 2026.
| Amount in 1948 | Value in 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1.00 | $13.72 |
| $5.00 | $68.61 |
| $10.00 | $137 |
| $20.00 | $274 |
| $50.00 | $686 |
| $100 | $1,372 |
| $500 | $6,861 |
| $1,000 | $13,723 |
| $5,000 | $68,615 |
| $10,000 | $137,230 |
| $100,000 | $1,372,299 |
| $1,000,000 | $13,722,988 |
The headline number is an average. Individual categories moved very differently over this period. Here is what $100 of 1948 spending costs in 2026, by category:
| Category | Avg. yearly inflation | $100 in 1948 → |
|---|---|---|
| All items (CPI-U) | 3.41% | $1,372 |
| Medical care | 4.88% | $4,112 |
| Transportation | 3.42% | $1,377 |
| Food | 3.38% | $1,332 |
| Apparel | 1.50% | $320 |
Not shown because the BLS began these indexes after 1948: core (all items less food & energy) (1957–), energy (1957–), housing (1967–), recreation (1993–), education & communication (1993–).
| Year | CPI | Inflation rate | $100 from 1948 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1948 | 24.1 | 8.1% | $100 |
| 1953 | 26.7 | 0.8% | $111 |
| 1958 | 28.9 | 2.8% | $120 |
| 1963 | 30.6 | 1.3% | $127 |
| 1968 | 34.8 | 4.2% | $144 |
| 1973 | 44.4 | 6.2% | $184 |
| 1978 | 65.2 | 7.6% | $271 |
| 1983 | 99.6 | 3.2% | $413 |
| 1988 | 118.3 | 4.1% | $491 |
| 1993 | 144.5 | 3.0% | $600 |
| 1998 | 163 | 1.6% | $676 |
| 2003 | 184 | 2.3% | $763 |
| 2008 | 215.303 | 3.8% | $893 |
| 2013 | 232.957 | 1.5% | $967 |
| 2018 | 251.107 | 2.4% | $1,042 |
| 2023 | 304.702 | 4.1% | $1,264 |
| 2026 | 330.724 | 2.7% | $1,372 |
Long periods are sampled every 5 years; the calculator above covers any pair of years.
MLA: “Inflation from 1948 to 2026: $100 is worth $1,372 today.” InflationCalculator.com, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data, https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1948-to-2026/
APA: InflationCalculator.com. Inflation from 1948 to 2026. Based on U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics CPI-U data. Retrieved from https://inflationcalculator.com/inflation/1948-to-2026/
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U annual averages (series CUUR0000SA0; category indexes listed on the data sources page). See how these numbers are calculated.