Inflation & buying power
What is 1946 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1946 has the same buying power as about $17.17 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1946 is about 1617%, or roughly 3.6% per year over 80 years.
What 1946 money is worth today
| In 1946 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $171.71 |
| $100.00 | $1,717 |
| $1,000 | $17,171 |
| $10,000 | $171,708 |
| $100,000 | $1,717,083 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1946 dollar is worth about $17.17 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1946 — 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 $17.17, because everyday prices have climbed about 1617% in the 80 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.06 bought in 1946.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1946: about 1617%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.6% per year.
- Time span: 80 years (1946 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1946 worth today?
$1 in 1946 has the same buying power as about $17.17 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 1617% since then (an average of about 3.6% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1946?
Cumulative inflation from 1946 to May 2026 is about 1617%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1946 costs about $1,717 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.