Inflation & buying power
What is 1940 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1940 has the same buying power as about $23.92 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1940 is about 2292%, or roughly 3.8% per year over 86 years.
What 1940 money is worth today
| In 1940 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $239.24 |
| $100.00 | $2,392 |
| $1,000 | $23,924 |
| $10,000 | $239,237 |
| $100,000 | $2,392,369 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1940 dollar is worth about $23.92 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1940 — during the World War II years — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $23.92, because everyday prices have climbed about 2292% in the 86 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.04 bought in 1940.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1940: about 2292%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.8% per year.
- Time span: 86 years (1940 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1940 worth today?
$1 in 1940 has the same buying power as about $23.92 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 2292% since then (an average of about 3.8% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1940?
Cumulative inflation from 1940 to May 2026 is about 2292%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1940 costs about $2,392 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.
Last reviewed June 20, 2026. Figures based on the Consumer Price Index (CPI) from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Estimates for general education, not financial advice.