How much is $100 from 1948 worth today?

About $1,393.33 in 2026 dollars, based on the annual-average U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). 2026 is an estimate until the full-year CPI is published.

What was the inflation rate from 1948 to 2026?

Cumulative inflation was 1293.3%, an average of 3.43% per year over 78 years.

What would $100 today have bought in 1948?

Today’s $100 buys what about $7.18 bought in 1948.

What was the highest one-year inflation since 1948?

1980, when the CPI rose 13.5% over the year before.

$100 in 1948 is worth $1,393 in 2026

$100 in 1948 has the same buying power as $1,393 in 2026. Prices rose 1293.3% — about 3.43% a year. See $1 to $100,000 from 1948 in today’s dollars, using U.S. CPI-U.

Cumulative inflation

1293.3%

1948 → 2026

Average per year

3.43%

over 78 years

$100 today in 1948

$7.18

same buying power

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2026 uses the Minneapolis Fed’s estimate of the annual-average CPI until the full year is published.

What $100 from 1948 is worth, year by year

Year	$100 from 1948 equals
1948	$100.00
1958	$120.42
1968	$145.00
1978	$271.67
1988	$492.92
1998	$679.17
2008	$897.08
2018	$1,046.25
2026	$1,393.33

1948 dollars in 2026 dollars

In 1948	In 2026
$1.00	$13.93
$5.00	$69.67
$10.00	$139.33
$20.00	$278.67
$50.00	$696.67
$100.00	$1,393.33
$500.00	$6,966.67
$1,000.00	$13,933.33
$5,000.00	$69,666.67
$10,000.00	$139,333.33
$50,000.00	$696,666.67
$100,000.00	$1,393,333.33

How this is calculated

Value today = amount × (CPI in 2026 ÷ CPI in 1948). The Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, annual average) tracks what a typical basket of goods and services costs. Between 1948 and 2026the index rose by a factor of 13.933, so every 1948 dollar needs about $13.93 today to buy the same things. The biggest single-year jump in that span was 13.5% in 1980.

Frequently asked questions

How much is $100 from 1948 worth today?: About $1,393.33 in 2026 dollars, based on the annual-average U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). 2026 is an estimate until the full-year CPI is published.
What was the inflation rate from 1948 to 2026?: Cumulative inflation was 1293.3%, an average of 3.43% per year over 78 years.
What would $100 today have bought in 1948?: Today’s $100 buys what about $7.18 bought in 1948.
What was the highest one-year inflation since 1948?: 1980, when the CPI rose 13.5% over the year before.

$100 in other years

Any amount, any two years — open the inflation calculator