$1,000 in 1948 is worth $13,899.59 today
$1,000 in 1948 has the same buying power as
$13,899.59 in August 2026
That is 1,290% more, an average inflation rate of 3.43% a year over 78 years.
Put the other way, $1,000 today buys what $71.94 bought in 1948. Cash kept under the mattress since 1948 has lost 93% of its value.
$1,000 from nearby years
| $1,000 in | Worth in August 2026 | Inflation that year |
|---|---|---|
| 1943 | $19,363.01 | 6.1% |
| 1944 | $19,032.95 | 1.7% |
| 1945 | $18,610.00 | 2.3% |
| 1946 | $17,178.46 | 8.3% |
| 1947 | $15,021.52 | 14.4% |
| 1948 | $13,899.59 | 8.1% |
| 1949 | $14,074.79 | -1.2% |
| 1950 | $13,899.59 | 1.3% |
| 1951 | $12,883.85 | 7.9% |
| 1952 | $12,640.75 | 1.9% |
| 1953 | $12,546.07 | 0.8% |
How $1,000 from 1948 grew
$1,000 of 1948 spending, by category
Not everything rose at the same pace. What $1,000 spent on each of these in 1948 costs today:
| Category | Cost in August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Food | $13,425.98 |
| Rent | $16,327.16 |
| Gasoline | $19,340.75 |
| Medical care | $41,180.76 |
| New cars | $4,818.10 |
| Electricity | $11,569.29 |
| Clothing | $3,217.69 |
Try a different amount or date
Questions
- How much is $1,000 in 1948 worth today?
- $1,000 in 1948 is worth $13,899.59 in August 2026 dollars, according to the U.S. Consumer Price Index.
- How much would I need today to match $1,000 in 1948?
- You would need $13,899.59 to buy what $1,000 bought in 1948. That is 13.90 times as much.
- How much buying power has $1,000 lost since 1948?
- Kept as cash, $1,000 from 1948 buys only what $71.94 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
- $100 in 1948
- $500 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