Inflation & buying power
What is 1978 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1978 has the same buying power as about $5.14 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1978 is about 414%, or roughly 3.5% per year over 48 years.
What 1978 money is worth today
| In 1978 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $51.37 |
| $100.00 | $513.73 |
| $1,000 | $5,137 |
| $10,000 | $51,373 |
| $100,000 | $513,732 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1978 dollar is worth about $5.14 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1978 — during the high-inflation 1970s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $5.14, because everyday prices have climbed about 414% in the 48 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.19 bought in 1978.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1978: about 414%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.5% per year.
- Time span: 48 years (1978 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1978 worth today?
$1 in 1978 has the same buying power as about $5.14 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 414% since then (an average of about 3.5% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1978?
Cumulative inflation from 1978 to May 2026 is about 414%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1978 costs about $513.73 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.