Inflation & buying power
What is 1940 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1940 has the same buying power as about $23.92 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1940 is about 2292%, or roughly 3.8% per year over 86 years.
What 1940 money is worth today
| In 1940 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $239.24 |
| $100.00 | $2,392 |
| $1,000 | $23,924 |
| $10,000 | $239,237 |
| $100,000 | $2,392,369 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1940 dollar is worth about $23.92 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1940 — during the World War II years — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $23.92, because everyday prices have climbed about 2292% in the 86 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.04 bought in 1940.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1940: about 2292%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.8% per year.
- Time span: 86 years (1940 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1940 worth today?
$1 in 1940 has the same buying power as about $23.92 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 2292% since then (an average of about 3.8% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1940?
Cumulative inflation from 1940 to May 2026 is about 2292%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1940 costs about $2,392 now.
Where does this data come from?
It uses the U.S. Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U, series CPIAUCNS) published by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED, using annual-average CPI for past years and the latest monthly value for today.