Inflation & buying power
What is 1971 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1971 has the same buying power as about $8.28 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1971 is about 728%, or roughly 3.9% per year over 55 years.
What 1971 money is worth today
| In 1971 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $82.76 |
| $100.00 | $827.63 |
| $1,000 | $8,276 |
| $10,000 | $82,763 |
| $100,000 | $827,628 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1971 dollar is worth about $8.28 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1971 — during the high-inflation 1970s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $8.28, because everyday prices have climbed about 728% in the 55 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.12 bought in 1971.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1971: about 728%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.9% per year.
- Time span: 55 years (1971 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1971 worth today?
$1 in 1971 has the same buying power as about $8.28 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 728% since then (an average of about 3.9% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1971?
Cumulative inflation from 1971 to May 2026 is about 728%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1971 costs about $827.63 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.