$100 in 1948 is worth $1,389.96 today
$100 in 1948 has the same buying power as
$1,389.96 in August 2026
That is 1,290% more, an average inflation rate of 3.43% a year over 78 years.
Put the other way, $100 today buys what $7.19 bought in 1948. Cash kept under the mattress since 1948 has lost 93% of its value.
$100 from nearby years
| $100 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1943 | $1,936.30 | 6.1% |
| 1944 | $1,903.30 | 1.7% |
| 1945 | $1,861.00 | 2.3% |
| 1946 | $1,717.85 | 8.3% |
| 1947 | $1,502.15 | 14.4% |
| 1948 | $1,389.96 | 8.1% |
| 1949 | $1,407.48 | -1.2% |
| 1950 | $1,389.96 | 1.3% |
| 1951 | $1,288.38 | 7.9% |
| 1952 | $1,264.08 | 1.9% |
| 1953 | $1,254.61 | 0.8% |
How $100 from 1948 grew
$100 of 1948 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $100 spent on each of these in 1948 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $1,342.60 |
| Rent | $1,632.72 |
| Gasoline | $1,934.08 |
| Medical care | $4,118.08 |
| New cars | $481.81 |
| Electricity | $1,156.93 |
| Clothing | $321.77 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $100 in 1948 worth today?
- $100 in 1948 is worth $1,389.96 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $100 in 1948?
- You would need $1,389.96 to buy what $100 bought in 1948. That is 13.90 times as much.
- How much buying power has $100 lost since 1948?
- Kept as cash, $100 from 1948 buys only what $7.19 of 1948 money bought. It has lost 93% of its buying power.
- What was inflation in 1948?
- Prices rose 8.1% in 1948. Since then the average has been 3.43% a year.
Other amounts from 1948
- $1 in 1948
- $5 in 1948
- $10 in 1948
- $20 in 1948
- $50 in 1948
- $500 in 1948
- $1,000 in 1948
- $5,000 in 1948
- $10,000 in 1948
- $20,000 in 1948
- $50,000 in 1948
- $100,000 in 1948
- $1 million in 1948