Daily AncestorWhat was a dollar worth in the 1940s?
One dollar in the 1940s bought about what $13.40 to $22.98 bought in 2025, depending on the year.
The table compares consumer prices only: what an amount from a will, an inventory, a land sale or a pension from the 1940s would buy in 2025. It does not compare wages, land values or how rich someone was.
| Year | $1 then, in 2025 dollars | $100 then, in 2025 dollars |
|---|---|---|
| 1940 | $22.98 | $2,298 |
| 1941 | $21.89 | $2,189 |
| 1942 | $19.70 | $1,970 |
| 1943 | $18.61 | $1,861 |
| 1944 | $18.29 | $1,829 |
| 1945 | $17.88 | $1,788 |
| 1946 | $16.51 | $1,651 |
| 1947 | $14.42 | $1,442 |
| 1948 | $13.40 | $1,340 |
| 1949 | $13.53 | $1,353 |
Source: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis, Consumer Price Index 1800 onward (annual averages).