$100 in 1948 is worth $1,389.96 today

$100 in 1948 has the same buying power as

$1,389.96 in August 2026

That is 1,290% more, an average inflation rate of 3.43% a year over 78 years.

Put the other way, $100 today buys what $7.19 bought in 1948. Cash kept under the mattress since 1948 has lost 93% of its value.

$100 from nearby years

$100 inWorth in August 2026Inflation that year
1943$1,936.306.1%
1944$1,903.301.7%
1945$1,861.002.3%
1946$1,717.858.3%
1947$1,502.1514.4%
1948$1,389.968.1%
1949$1,407.48-1.2%
1950$1,389.961.3%
1951$1,288.387.9%
1952$1,264.081.9%
1953$1,254.610.8%

How $100 from 1948 grew

$0.00$200$400$600$800$1000$1200$1400195019601970198019902000201020202026.625: $1390
$100 from 1948 in each later year's dollars

$100 of 1948 spending, by category

Not everything rose at the same pace. What $100 spent on each of these in 1948 costs today:

CategoryCost in August 2026
Food$1,342.60
Rent$1,632.72
Gasoline$1,934.08
Medical care$4,118.08
New cars$481.81
Electricity$1,156.93
Clothing$321.77

Try a different amount or date

$100.00 in 1948 has the same buying power as

$1,389.96 in August 2026

Prices rose 1,290.0% in total, an average of 3.43% a year.

Questions

How much is $100 in 1948 worth today?
$100 in 1948 is worth $1,389.96 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
How much would I need today to match $100 in 1948?
You would need $1,389.96 to buy what $100 bought in 1948. That is 13.90 times as much.
How much buying power has $100 lost since 1948?
Kept as cash, $100 from 1948 buys only what $7.19 of 1948 money bought. It has lost 93% of its buying power.
What was inflation in 1948?
Prices rose 8.1% in 1948. Since then the average has been 3.43% a year.

Other amounts from 1948

$100 in other decades

Everything about inflation in 1948