Inflation & buying power
What is 1974 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1974 has the same buying power as about $6.80 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1974 is about 580%, or roughly 3.8% per year over 52 years.
What 1974 money is worth today
| In 1974 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $67.97 |
| $100.00 | $679.65 |
| $1,000 | $6,797 |
| $10,000 | $67,965 |
| $100,000 | $679,652 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1974 dollar is worth about $6.80 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1974 — during the high-inflation 1970s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $6.80, because everyday prices have climbed about 580% in the 52 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.15 bought in 1974.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1974: about 580%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.8% per year.
- Time span: 52 years (1974 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1974 worth today?
$1 in 1974 has the same buying power as about $6.80 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 580% since then (an average of about 3.8% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1974?
Cumulative inflation from 1974 to May 2026 is about 580%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1974 costs about $679.65 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.