Dow Jones in 1954
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 44.0% in 1954, from 280.90 at the end of 1953 to 404.39. Its highest close was 404.39 on Dec 31 — a record that stood until January 3, 1955, and its lowest 279.87 on Jan 11. The biggest one-day fall was −2.1% on Jun 8 and the biggest rise +2.1% on Nov 3. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 45.0%.
Dow Jones, daily closes 1954
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1954
What happened, and how the Dow Jones moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Friday, February 26 From the dataBack above its pre-bear-market peak of 294.07 (April 17, 1930).
- 2
Tuesday, June 8 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −2.1%.
- 3
Wednesday, November 3 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +2.1%.
- 4
Tuesday, November 23 From the dataDow Jones sets the first of 13 record closing highs this year, at 382.74. Back above its pre-bear-market peak of 381.17 (September 3, 1929).
- 5
Wednesday, December 29 From the dataDow Jones closes above 400 for the first time (401.97).
- 6
Friday, December 31 From the dataLast record close of the year: 404.39.
Biggest days of 1954
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nov 3 | +2.1% | Jun 8 | −2.1% |
| Nov 4 | +1.5% | Aug 31 | −1.6% |
| Apr 29 | +1.4% | Aug 6 | −1.4% |
| Dec 28 | +1.2% | Oct 14 | −1.2% |
| Dec 16 | +1.1% | Feb 16 | −1.0% |
Volatility: 8.7% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 292.39 | +4.1% |
| Feb | 294.54 | +0.7% |
| Mar | 303.51 | +3.0% |
| Apr | 319.33 | +5.2% |
| May | 327.49 | +2.6% |
| Jun | 333.53 | +1.8% |
| Jul | 347.92 | +4.3% |
| Aug | 335.80 | −3.5% |
| Sep | 360.46 | +7.3% |
| Oct | 352.14 | −2.3% |
| Nov | 386.77 | +9.8% |
| Dec | 404.39 | +4.6% |
Other Markets in 1954
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| Dow Jones | +44.0% | 404.39 |
| S&P 500 in 1954 | +45.0% | 35.98 |
Dow Jones in 1954: FAQ
How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise in 1954?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 44.0% in 1954, from 280.90 at the end of 1953 to 404.39. Its highest close was 404.39 on Dec 31 — a record that stood until January 3, 1955, and its lowest 279.87 on Jan 11. The biggest one-day fall was −2.1% on Jun 8 and the biggest rise +2.1% on Nov 3. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 45.0%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1954?
Highest: 404.39 on December 31, 1954. Lowest: 279.87 on January 11, 1954. It closed higher on 158 of 252 trading days.
Did the Dow Jones Industrial Average reach a record high in 1954?
Yes — 13 record closing highs, the last at 404.39 on December 31, 1954.
Data: Daily closes since 26 May 1896. Saturday sessions were held until 1952. The NYSE was closed from 31 Jul to 11 Dec 1914. Price index: dividends are not included. Inflation: US CPI-U. Events marked "From the data" are found automatically from the closing prices; the others are researched, with the source linked. Not investment advice.
Cite this page
For essays, articles and research. Prices on this page update daily, so the citations include today's date as the date you accessed it.
@misc{corgano2026dowjonesin1954, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {Dow Jones in 1954}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/dow-jones/1954}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-11-01}}