Value of $1 from 1946 to today
$1 in 1946 is worth
$17.18 in August 2026
Prices are 1,618% higher, an average of 3.61% a year. In other words, $1 today buys what $0.06 bought in 1946.
Inflation in 1946
8.3%
Average CPI in 1946
19.5
CPI in August 2026
335.0
Average inflation, 1940s
5.5%
1946 dollars in today's money
| In 1946 | In August 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1 | $17.18 |
| $5 | $85.89 |
| $10 | $171.78 |
| $20 | $343.57 |
| $50 | $858.92 |
| $100 | $1,717.85 |
| $500 | $8,589.23 |
| $1,000 | $17,178.46 |
| $5,000 | $85,892.31 |
| $10,000 | $171,785 |
| $20,000 | $343,569 |
| $50,000 | $858,923 |
| $100,000 | $1,717,846 |
| $1 million | $17,178,462 |
Convert another amount
How $1 from 1946 grew
Which prices rose most since 1946
Overall prices rose 1,618% since 1946. Some things rose far more and some far less:
| Category | Change since 1946 | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes and tobacco | +10,018% | 5.9% |
| Car insurance | +8,056% | 5.6% |
| Medical care | +4,644% | 4.9% |
| Dental care | +3,718% | 4.7% |
| Doctor visits | +3,107% | 4.4% |
| Public transportation | +3,028% | 4.4% |
| Services | +2,973% | 4.4% |
| Postage | +2,903% | 4.3% |
| Milk | +864% | 2.9% |
| Butter | +824% | 2.8% |
| Bananas | +679% | 2.6% |
| Shoes | +585% | 2.4% |
| Chicken and poultry | +378% | 2.0% |
| Eggs | +361% | 1.9% |
| Furniture | +309% | 1.8% |
| Clothing | +298% | 1.7% |
Year by year since 1946
| Year | $1 from 1946 equals | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1946 | $1.00 | 8.3% |
| 1947 | $1.14 | 14.4% |
| 1948 | $1.24 | 8.1% |
| 1949 | $1.22 | -1.2% |
| 1950 | $1.24 | 1.3% |
| 1951 | $1.33 | 7.9% |
| 1952 | $1.36 | 1.9% |
| 1953 | $1.37 | 0.8% |
| 1954 | $1.38 | 0.7% |
| 1955 | $1.37 | -0.4% |
| 1956 | $1.39 | 1.5% |
| 1957 | $1.44 | 3.3% |
| 1958 | $1.48 | 2.8% |
| 1959 | $1.49 | 0.7% |
| 1960 | $1.52 | 1.7% |
| 1961 | $1.53 | 1.0% |
| 1962 | $1.55 | 1.0% |
| 1963 | $1.57 | 1.3% |
| 1964 | $1.59 | 1.3% |
| 1965 | $1.62 | 1.6% |
| 1966 | $1.66 | 2.9% |
| 1967 | $1.71 | 3.1% |
| 1968 | $1.78 | 4.2% |
| 1969 | $1.88 | 5.5% |
| 1970 | $1.99 | 5.7% |
| 1971 | $2.08 | 4.4% |
| 1972 | $2.14 | 3.2% |
| 1973 | $2.28 | 6.2% |
| 1974 | $2.53 | 11.0% |
| 1975 | $2.76 | 9.1% |
| 1976 | $2.92 | 5.8% |
| 1977 | $3.11 | 6.5% |
| 1978 | $3.34 | 7.6% |
| 1979 | $3.72 | 11.3% |
| 1980 | $4.23 | 13.5% |
| 1981 | $4.66 | 10.3% |
| 1982 | $4.95 | 6.2% |
| 1983 | $5.11 | 3.2% |
| 1984 | $5.33 | 4.3% |
| 1985 | $5.52 | 3.6% |
| 1986 | $5.62 | 1.9% |
| 1987 | $5.83 | 3.6% |
| 1988 | $6.07 | 4.1% |
| 1989 | $6.36 | 4.8% |
| 1990 | $6.70 | 5.4% |
| 1991 | $6.98 | 4.2% |
| 1992 | $7.19 | 3.0% |
| 1993 | $7.41 | 3.0% |
| 1994 | $7.60 | 2.6% |
| 1995 | $7.82 | 2.8% |
| 1996 | $8.05 | 3.0% |
| 1997 | $8.23 | 2.3% |
| 1998 | $8.36 | 1.6% |
| 1999 | $8.54 | 2.2% |
| 2000 | $8.83 | 3.4% |
| 2001 | $9.08 | 2.8% |
| 2002 | $9.23 | 1.6% |
| 2003 | $9.44 | 2.3% |
| 2004 | $9.69 | 2.7% |
| 2005 | $10.02 | 3.4% |
| 2006 | $10.34 | 3.2% |
| 2007 | $10.63 | 2.8% |
| 2008 | $11.04 | 3.8% |
| 2009 | $11.00 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | $11.18 | 1.6% |
| 2011 | $11.54 | 3.2% |
| 2012 | $11.77 | 2.1% |
| 2013 | $11.95 | 1.5% |
| 2014 | $12.14 | 1.6% |
| 2015 | $12.15 | 0.1% |
| 2016 | $12.31 | 1.3% |
| 2017 | $12.57 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | $12.88 | 2.4% |
| 2019 | $13.11 | 1.8% |
| 2020 | $13.27 | 1.2% |
| 2021 | $13.90 | 4.7% |
| 2022 | $15.01 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | $15.63 | 4.1% |
| 2024 | $16.09 | 2.9% |
| 2025 | $16.51 | 2.6% |
| August 2026 | $17.18 |
Questions
- How much is $1 from 1946 worth today?
- $1 in 1946 has the same buying power as $17.18 in August 2026, based on the Consumer Price Index.
- What was the inflation rate in 1946?
- Prices rose 8.3% in 1946, comparing the average CPI for 1946 with 1945.
- How much have prices gone up since 1946?
- Prices are 1,618% higher than in 1946, an average of 3.61% a year.
- What is $100 from 1946 worth today?
- $1,717.85. $1,000 from 1946 is worth $17,178.46.