Inflation & buying power
What is 1968 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1968 has the same buying power as about $9.63 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1968 is about 863%, or roughly 4.0% per year over 58 years.
What 1968 money is worth today
| In 1968 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $96.35 |
| $100.00 | $963.47 |
| $1,000 | $9,635 |
| $10,000 | $96,347 |
| $100,000 | $963,468 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1968 dollar is worth about $9.63 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1968 — during the 1960s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $9.63, because everyday prices have climbed about 863% in the 58 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.10 bought in 1968.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1968: about 863%.
- Average annual inflation: about 4.0% per year.
- Time span: 58 years (1968 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1968 worth today?
$1 in 1968 has the same buying power as about $9.63 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 863% since then (an average of about 4.0% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1968?
Cumulative inflation from 1968 to May 2026 is about 863%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1968 costs about $963.47 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.