Inflation & buying power
What is 1971 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1971 has the same buying power as about $8.25 today (July 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1971 is about 725%, or roughly 3.9% per year over 55 years.
What 1971 money is worth today
| In 1971 | Worth today (July 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $82.47 |
| $100.00 | $824.65 |
| $1,000 | $8,247 |
| $10,000 | $82,465 |
| $100,000 | $824,652 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1971 dollar is worth about $8.25 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 $8.25, because everyday prices have climbed about 725% 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 725%.
- 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 $8.25 in July 2026, because prices have risen roughly 725% since then (an average of about 3.9% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1971?
Cumulative inflation from 1971 to July 2026 is about 725%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1971 costs about $824.65 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.
Last reviewed August 31, 2026. Figures based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Estimates for general education, not financial advice.