Inflation & buying power
What is 1979 dollars worth today?
$1 in 1979 has the same buying power as about $4.62 today (May 2026). Cumulative inflation since 1979 is about 362%, or roughly 3.3% per year over 47 years.
What 1979 money is worth today
| In 1979 | Worth today (May 2026) |
|---|---|
| $10.00 | $46.18 |
| $100.00 | $461.76 |
| $1,000 | $4,618 |
| $10,000 | $46,176 |
| $100,000 | $461,761 |
Based on the U.S. Consumer Price Index (CPI-U). A 1979 dollar is worth about $4.62 now.
What this means
A dollar in 1979 — during the high-inflation 1970s — stretched a lot further than it does now. To match that same buying power today you'd need about $4.62, because everyday prices have climbed about 362% in the 47 years since.
Put another way, today's dollar buys what about $0.22 bought in 1979.
The inflation behind the number
- Total inflation since 1979: about 362%.
- Average annual inflation: about 3.3% per year.
- Time span: 47 years (1979 → 2026).
- Source: CPI-U (CPIAUCNS), U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics via FRED.
Frequently asked questions
How much is $1 from 1979 worth today?
$1 in 1979 has the same buying power as about $4.62 in May 2026, because prices have risen roughly 362% since then (an average of about 3.3% a year).
How much has inflation been since 1979?
Cumulative inflation from 1979 to May 2026 is about 362%. In other words, something that cost $100 in 1979 costs about $461.76 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.