Inflation & buying power
What is 1979 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1979 has the same buying power as about $4.62 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1979 is about 362%, or roughly 3.3% per year over 47 years.
What 1979 money is worth today
| In 1979 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $46.18 |
| $100.00 | $461.76 |
| $1,000 | $4,618 |
| $10,000 | $46,176 |
| $100,000 | $461,761 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1979 dollar is worth about $4.62 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1979 — during the high-inflation 1970s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $4.62, because everyday prices have climbed about 362% in the 47 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.22 bought in 1979.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1979: about 362%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.3% per year.
- Time span: 47 years (1979 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1979 worth today?
$1 in 1979 has the same buying power as about $4.62 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 362% since then (an average of about 3.3% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1979?
Cumulative inflation from 1979 to May 2026 is about 362%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1979 costs about $461.76 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.