Inflation & buying power
What is 1958 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1958 has the same buying power as about $11.61 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1958 is about 1061%, or roughly 3.7% per year over 68 years.
What 1958 money is worth today
| In 1958 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $116.13 |
| $100.00 | $1,161 |
| $1,000 | $11,613 |
| $10,000 | $116,128 |
| $100,000 | $1,161,283 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1958 dollar is worth about $11.61 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1958 — during the postwar boom — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $11.61, because everyday prices have climbed about 1061% in the 68 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.09 bought in 1958.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1958: about 1061%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.7% per year.
- Time span: 68 years (1958 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1958 worth today?
$1 in 1958 has the same buying power as about $11.61 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 1061% since then (an average of about 3.7% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1958?
Cumulative inflation from 1958 to May 2026 is about 1061%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1958 costs about $1,161 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.