Inflation & buying power
What is 1966 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1966 has the same buying power as about $10.32 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1966 is about 932%, or roughly 4.0% per year over 60 years.
What 1966 money is worth today
| In 1966 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $103.25 |
| $100.00 | $1,032 |
| $1,000 | $10,325 |
| $10,000 | $103,248 |
| $100,000 | $1,032,482 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1966 dollar is worth about $10.32 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1966 — during the 1960s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $10.32, because everyday prices have climbed about 932% in the 60 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.10 bought in 1966.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1966: about 932%.
- Average annual inflation: about 4.0% per year.
- Time span: 60 years (1966 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1966 worth today?
$1 in 1966 has the same buying power as about $10.32 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 932% since then (an average of about 4.0% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1966?
Cumulative inflation from 1966 to May 2026 is about 932%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1966 costs about $1,032 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.