$1 in 1952 is worth $12.64 today
$1 in 1952 has the same buying power as
$12.64 in August 2026
That is 1,164% more, an average inflation rate of 3.48% a year over 74 years.
Put the other way, $1 today buys what $0.08 bought in 1952. Cash kept under the mattress since 1952 has lost 92% of its value.
$1 from nearby years
| $1 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1947 | $15.02 | 14.4% |
| 1948 | $13.90 | 8.1% |
| 1949 | $14.07 | -1.2% |
| 1950 | $13.90 | 1.3% |
| 1951 | $12.88 | 7.9% |
| 1952 | $12.64 | 1.9% |
| 1953 | $12.55 | 0.8% |
| 1954 | $12.45 | 0.7% |
| 1955 | $12.50 | -0.4% |
| 1956 | $12.32 | 1.5% |
| 1957 | $11.92 | 3.3% |
How $1 from 1952 grew
$1 of 1952 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1 spent on each of these in 1952 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $12.21 |
| Rent | $13.94 |
| Gasoline | $17.99 |
| Medical care | $35.51 |
| New cars | $3.84 |
| Electricity | $11.23 |
| Clothing | $3.14 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $1 in 1952 worth today?
- $1 in 1952 is worth $12.64 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $1 in 1952?
- You would need $12.64 to buy what $1 bought in 1952. That is 12.64 times as much.
- How much buying power has $1 lost since 1952?
- Kept as cash, $1 from 1952 buys only what $0.08 of 1952 money bought. It has lost 92% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1952?
- Prices rose 1.9% in 1952. Since then the average has been 3.48% a year.
Other amounts from 1952
- $5 in 1952
- $10 in 1952
- $20 in 1952
- $50 in 1952
- $100 in 1952
- $500 in 1952
- $1,000 in 1952
- $5,000 in 1952
- $10,000 in 1952
- $20,000 in 1952
- $50,000 in 1952
- $100,000 in 1952
- $1 million in 1952