$1 in 1952 is worth $12.64 today

$1 in 1952 has the same buying power as

$12.64 in August 2026

That is 1,164% more, an average inflation rate of 3.48% a year over 74 years.

Put the other way, $1 today buys what $0.08 bought in 1952. Cash kept under the mattress since 1952 has lost 92% of its value.

$1 from nearby years

$1 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1947$15.0214.4%
1948$13.908.1%
1949$14.07-1.2%
1950$13.901.3%
1951$12.887.9%
1952$12.641.9%
1953$12.550.8%
1954$12.450.7%
1955$12.50-0.4%
1956$12.321.5%
1957$11.923.3%

How $1 from 1952 grew

$0.00$2.00$4.00$6.00$8.00$10$12$1419601970198019902000201020202026.625: $13
$1 from 1952 in each later year's dollars

$1 of 1952 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1 spent on each of these in 1952 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$12.21
Rent$13.94
Gasoline$17.99
Medical care$35.51
New cars$3.84
Electricity$11.23
Clothing$3.14

Try a different amount or date

$1.00 in 1952 has the same buying power as

$12.64 in August 2026

Prices rose 1,164.1% in total, an average of 3.48% a year.

Questions

How much is $1 in 1952 worth today?
$1 in 1952 is worth $12.64 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $1 in 1952?
You would need $12.64 to buy what $1 bought in 1952. That is 12.64 times as much.
How much buying power has $1 lost since 1952?
Kept as cash, $1 from 1952 buys only what $0.08 of 1952 money bought. It has lost 92% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1952?
Prices rose 1.9% in 1952. Since then the average has been 3.48% a year.

Other amounts from 1952

$1 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1952