Value of $1 from 1955 to today
$1 in 1955 is worth
$12.50 in August 2026
Prices are 1,150% higher, an average of 3.61% a year. In other words, $1 today buys what $0.08 bought in 1955.
Inflation in 1955
-0.4%
Average CPI in 1955
26.8
CPI in August 2026
335.0
Average inflation, 1950s
2.0%
1955 dollars in today's money
| In 1955 | In August 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1 | $12.50 |
| $5 | $62.50 |
| $10 | $124.99 |
| $20 | $249.99 |
| $50 | $624.96 |
| $100 | $1,249.93 |
| $500 | $6,249.63 |
| $1,000 | $12,499.25 |
| $5,000 | $62,496.27 |
| $10,000 | $124,993 |
| $20,000 | $249,985 |
| $50,000 | $624,963 |
| $100,000 | $1,249,925 |
| $1 million | $12,499,254 |
Convert another amount
How $1 from 1955 grew
Which prices rose most since 1955
Overall prices rose 1,150% since 1955. Some things rose far more and some far less:
| Category | Change since 1955 | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes and tobacco | +6,856% | 6.1% |
| Car insurance | +4,250% | 5.4% |
| Water and sewer | +3,972% | 5.3% |
| Medical care | +3,158% | 5.0% |
| Dental care | +2,636% | 4.8% |
| Doctor visits | +2,262% | 4.5% |
| Postage | +2,187% | 4.5% |
| Services | +2,024% | 4.4% |
| Bananas | +442% | 2.4% |
| Chicken and poultry | +370% | 2.2% |
| Shoes | +341% | 2.1% |
| Eggs | +340% | 2.1% |
| New cars | +300% | 2.0% |
| Furniture | +226% | 1.7% |
| Clothing | +219% | 1.6% |
| Televisions | -99% | -6.5% |
Year by year since 1955
| Year | $1 from 1955 equals | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | $1.00 | -0.4% |
| 1956 | $1.01 | 1.5% |
| 1957 | $1.05 | 3.3% |
| 1958 | $1.08 | 2.8% |
| 1959 | $1.09 | 0.7% |
| 1960 | $1.10 | 1.7% |
| 1961 | $1.12 | 1.0% |
| 1962 | $1.13 | 1.0% |
| 1963 | $1.14 | 1.3% |
| 1964 | $1.16 | 1.3% |
| 1965 | $1.18 | 1.6% |
| 1966 | $1.21 | 2.9% |
| 1967 | $1.25 | 3.1% |
| 1968 | $1.30 | 4.2% |
| 1969 | $1.37 | 5.5% |
| 1970 | $1.45 | 5.7% |
| 1971 | $1.51 | 4.4% |
| 1972 | $1.56 | 3.2% |
| 1973 | $1.66 | 6.2% |
| 1974 | $1.84 | 11.0% |
| 1975 | $2.01 | 9.1% |
| 1976 | $2.12 | 5.8% |
| 1977 | $2.26 | 6.5% |
| 1978 | $2.43 | 7.6% |
| 1979 | $2.71 | 11.3% |
| 1980 | $3.07 | 13.5% |
| 1981 | $3.39 | 10.3% |
| 1982 | $3.60 | 6.2% |
| 1983 | $3.72 | 3.2% |
| 1984 | $3.88 | 4.3% |
| 1985 | $4.01 | 3.6% |
| 1986 | $4.09 | 1.9% |
| 1987 | $4.24 | 3.6% |
| 1988 | $4.41 | 4.1% |
| 1989 | $4.63 | 4.8% |
| 1990 | $4.88 | 5.4% |
| 1991 | $5.08 | 4.2% |
| 1992 | $5.24 | 3.0% |
| 1993 | $5.39 | 3.0% |
| 1994 | $5.53 | 2.6% |
| 1995 | $5.69 | 2.8% |
| 1996 | $5.85 | 3.0% |
| 1997 | $5.99 | 2.3% |
| 1998 | $6.08 | 1.6% |
| 1999 | $6.22 | 2.2% |
| 2000 | $6.43 | 3.4% |
| 2001 | $6.61 | 2.8% |
| 2002 | $6.71 | 1.6% |
| 2003 | $6.87 | 2.3% |
| 2004 | $7.05 | 2.7% |
| 2005 | $7.29 | 3.4% |
| 2006 | $7.52 | 3.2% |
| 2007 | $7.74 | 2.8% |
| 2008 | $8.03 | 3.8% |
| 2009 | $8.01 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | $8.14 | 1.6% |
| 2011 | $8.39 | 3.2% |
| 2012 | $8.57 | 2.1% |
| 2013 | $8.69 | 1.5% |
| 2014 | $8.83 | 1.6% |
| 2015 | $8.84 | 0.1% |
| 2016 | $8.96 | 1.3% |
| 2017 | $9.15 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | $9.37 | 2.4% |
| 2019 | $9.54 | 1.8% |
| 2020 | $9.66 | 1.2% |
| 2021 | $10.11 | 4.7% |
| 2022 | $10.92 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | $11.37 | 4.1% |
| 2024 | $11.70 | 2.9% |
| 2025 | $12.01 | 2.6% |
| August 2026 | $12.50 |
Questions
- How much is $1 from 1955 worth today?
- $1 in 1955 has the same buying power as $12.50 in August 2026, based on the Consumer Price Index.
- What was the inflation rate in 1955?
- Prices fell 0.4% in 1955, comparing the average CPI for 1955 with 1954.
- How much have prices gone up since 1955?
- Prices are 1,150% higher than in 1955, an average of 3.61% a year.
- What is $100 from 1955 worth today?
- $1,249.93. $1,000 from 1955 is worth $12,499.25.