$5 in 1972 is worth $40.07 today
$5 in 1972 has the same buying power as
$40.07 in August 2026
That is 701% more, an average inflation rate of 3.92% a year over 54 years.
Put the other way, $5 today buys what $0.62 bought in 1972. Cash kept under the mattress since 1972 has lost 88% of its value.
$5 from nearby years
| $5 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1967 | $50.15 | 3.1% |
| 1968 | $48.13 | 4.2% |
| 1969 | $45.64 | 5.5% |
| 1970 | $43.17 | 5.7% |
| 1971 | $41.36 | 4.4% |
| 1972 | $40.07 | 3.2% |
| 1973 | $37.72 | 6.2% |
| 1974 | $33.97 | 11.0% |
| 1975 | $31.13 | 9.1% |
| 1976 | $29.44 | 5.8% |
| 1977 | $27.64 | 6.5% |
How $5 from 1972 grew
$5 of 1972 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $5 spent on each of these in 1972 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $41.62 |
| Rent | $44.54 |
| Gasoline | $63.33 |
| Medical care | $79.49 |
| New cars | $16.40 |
| Electricity | $43.55 |
| Clothing | $10.98 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $5 in 1972 worth today?
- $5 in 1972 is worth $40.07 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $5 in 1972?
- You would need $40.07 to buy what $5 bought in 1972. That is 8.01 times as much.
- How much buying power has $5 lost since 1972?
- Kept as cash, $5 from 1972 buys only what $0.62 of 1972 money bought. It has lost 88% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1972?
- Prices rose 3.2% in 1972. Since then the average has been 3.92% a year.
Other amounts from 1972
- $1 in 1972
- $10 in 1972
- $20 in 1972
- $50 in 1972
- $100 in 1972
- $500 in 1972
- $1,000 in 1972
- $5,000 in 1972
- $10,000 in 1972
- $20,000 in 1972
- $50,000 in 1972
- $100,000 in 1972
- $1 million in 1972