Value of $1 from 1956 to today
$1 in 1956 is worth
$12.32 in August 2026
Prices are 1,132% higher, an average of 3.65% a year. In other words, $1 today buys what $0.08 bought in 1956.
Inflation in 1956
1.5%
Average CPI in 1956
27.2
CPI in August 2026
335.0
Average inflation, 1950s
2.0%
1956 dollars in today's money
| In 1956 | In August 2026 |
|---|---|
| $1 | $12.32 |
| $5 | $61.58 |
| $10 | $123.15 |
| $20 | $246.31 |
| $50 | $615.77 |
| $100 | $1,231.54 |
| $500 | $6,157.72 |
| $1,000 | $12,315.44 |
| $5,000 | $61,577.21 |
| $10,000 | $123,154 |
| $20,000 | $246,309 |
| $50,000 | $615,772 |
| $100,000 | $1,231,544 |
| $1 million | $12,315,441 |
Convert another amount
How $1 from 1956 grew
Which prices rose most since 1956
Overall prices rose 1,132% since 1956. Some things rose far more and some far less:
| Category | Change since 1956 | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Cigarettes and tobacco | +6,856% | 6.2% |
| Car insurance | +4,364% | 5.6% |
| Water and sewer | +3,846% | 5.4% |
| Medical care | +3,038% | 5.0% |
| Dental care | +2,591% | 4.8% |
| Doctor visits | +2,200% | 4.6% |
| Postage | +2,187% | 4.6% |
| Services | +1,973% | 4.4% |
| Bananas | +445% | 2.4% |
| Chicken and poultry | +437% | 2.4% |
| Eggs | +342% | 2.1% |
| Shoes | +318% | 2.1% |
| New cars | +290% | 2.0% |
| Furniture | +224% | 1.7% |
| Clothing | +213% | 1.6% |
| Televisions | -99% | -6.6% |
Year by year since 1956
| Year | $1 from 1956 equals | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1956 | $1.00 | 1.5% |
| 1957 | $1.03 | 3.3% |
| 1958 | $1.06 | 2.8% |
| 1959 | $1.07 | 0.7% |
| 1960 | $1.09 | 1.7% |
| 1961 | $1.10 | 1.0% |
| 1962 | $1.11 | 1.0% |
| 1963 | $1.13 | 1.3% |
| 1964 | $1.14 | 1.3% |
| 1965 | $1.16 | 1.6% |
| 1966 | $1.19 | 2.9% |
| 1967 | $1.23 | 3.1% |
| 1968 | $1.28 | 4.2% |
| 1969 | $1.35 | 5.5% |
| 1970 | $1.43 | 5.7% |
| 1971 | $1.49 | 4.4% |
| 1972 | $1.54 | 3.2% |
| 1973 | $1.63 | 6.2% |
| 1974 | $1.81 | 11.0% |
| 1975 | $1.98 | 9.1% |
| 1976 | $2.09 | 5.8% |
| 1977 | $2.23 | 6.5% |
| 1978 | $2.40 | 7.6% |
| 1979 | $2.67 | 11.3% |
| 1980 | $3.03 | 13.5% |
| 1981 | $3.34 | 10.3% |
| 1982 | $3.55 | 6.2% |
| 1983 | $3.66 | 3.2% |
| 1984 | $3.82 | 4.3% |
| 1985 | $3.96 | 3.6% |
| 1986 | $4.03 | 1.9% |
| 1987 | $4.18 | 3.6% |
| 1988 | $4.35 | 4.1% |
| 1989 | $4.56 | 4.8% |
| 1990 | $4.81 | 5.4% |
| 1991 | $5.01 | 4.2% |
| 1992 | $5.16 | 3.0% |
| 1993 | $5.31 | 3.0% |
| 1994 | $5.45 | 2.6% |
| 1995 | $5.60 | 2.8% |
| 1996 | $5.77 | 3.0% |
| 1997 | $5.90 | 2.3% |
| 1998 | $5.99 | 1.6% |
| 1999 | $6.13 | 2.2% |
| 2000 | $6.33 | 3.4% |
| 2001 | $6.51 | 2.8% |
| 2002 | $6.61 | 1.6% |
| 2003 | $6.76 | 2.3% |
| 2004 | $6.94 | 2.7% |
| 2005 | $7.18 | 3.4% |
| 2006 | $7.41 | 3.2% |
| 2007 | $7.62 | 2.8% |
| 2008 | $7.92 | 3.8% |
| 2009 | $7.89 | -0.4% |
| 2010 | $8.02 | 1.6% |
| 2011 | $8.27 | 3.2% |
| 2012 | $8.44 | 2.1% |
| 2013 | $8.56 | 1.5% |
| 2014 | $8.70 | 1.6% |
| 2015 | $8.71 | 0.1% |
| 2016 | $8.82 | 1.3% |
| 2017 | $9.01 | 2.1% |
| 2018 | $9.23 | 2.4% |
| 2019 | $9.40 | 1.8% |
| 2020 | $9.52 | 1.2% |
| 2021 | $9.96 | 4.7% |
| 2022 | $10.76 | 8.0% |
| 2023 | $11.20 | 4.1% |
| 2024 | $11.53 | 2.9% |
| 2025 | $11.84 | 2.6% |
| August 2026 | $12.32 |
Questions
- How much is $1 from 1956 worth today?
- $1 in 1956 has the same buying power as $12.32 in August 2026, based on the Consumer Price Index.
- What was the inflation rate in 1956?
- Prices rose 1.5% in 1956, comparing the average CPI for 1956 with 1955.
- How much have prices gone up since 1956?
- Prices are 1,132% higher than in 1956, an average of 3.65% a year.
- What is $100 from 1956 worth today?
- $1,231.54. $1,000 from 1956 is worth $12,315.44.