Dow Jones in 1955
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 20.8% in 1955, from 404.39 at the end of 1954 to 488.40. Its highest close was 488.40 on Dec 30 — a record that stood until March 2, 1956, and its lowest 388.20 on Jan 17. The biggest one-day fall was −6.5% on Sep 26 and the biggest rise +2.3% on Sep 27. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 20.3%.
Dow Jones, daily closes 1955
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1955
What happened, and how the Dow Jones moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Monday, January 3 From the dataDow Jones sets the first of 49 record closing highs this year, at 408.89.
- 2
Saturday, April 23Federal Reserve raises the margin requirement on stocks to 70%. SourceDow Jones: +0.3% next trading day (Apr 25) · −1.2% a month later
- 3
Monday, September 26Dow falls about 6% after President Eisenhower's heart attack. SourceDow Jones: −6.5% that day · −5.5% a month later
- 4
Tuesday, September 27 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +2.3%.
- 5
Friday, December 30 From the dataLast record close of the year: 488.40.
Biggest days of 1955
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 27 | +2.3% | Sep 26 | −6.5% |
| Mar 15 | +2.0% | Oct 10 | −2.9% |
| Nov 14 | +1.8% | Mar 14 | −2.4% |
| Jul 6 | +1.7% | Oct 3 | −2.3% |
| Oct 12 | +1.6% | Jan 5 | −2.2% |
Volatility: 13.4% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 408.83 | +1.1% |
| Feb | 411.87 | +0.7% |
| Mar | 409.70 | −0.5% |
| Apr | 425.65 | +3.9% |
| May | 424.86 | −0.2% |
| Jun | 451.38 | +6.2% |
| Jul | 465.85 | +3.2% |
| Aug | 468.18 | +0.5% |
| Sep | 466.62 | −0.3% |
| Oct | 454.87 | −2.5% |
| Nov | 483.26 | +6.2% |
| Dec | 488.40 | +1.1% |
Other Markets in 1955
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| Dow Jones | +20.8% | 488.40 |
| S&P 500 in 1955 | +26.4% | 45.48 |
Dow Jones in 1955: FAQ
How much did the Dow Jones Industrial Average rise in 1955?
The Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 20.8% in 1955, from 404.39 at the end of 1954 to 488.40. Its highest close was 488.40 on Dec 30 — a record that stood until March 2, 1956, and its lowest 388.20 on Jan 17. The biggest one-day fall was −6.5% on Sep 26 and the biggest rise +2.3% on Sep 27. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 20.3%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1955?
Highest: 488.40 on December 30, 1955. Lowest: 388.20 on January 17, 1955. It closed higher on 157 of 252 trading days.
What happened to the Dow Jones Industrial Average on September 26, 1955?
Dow falls about 6% after President Eisenhower's heart attack. The Dow Jones Industrial Average fell 6.5% that day, and was −5.5% a month later.
Did the Dow Jones Industrial Average reach a record high in 1955?
Yes — 49 record closing highs, the last at 488.40 on December 30, 1955.
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.
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@misc{corgano2026dowjonesin1955, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {Dow Jones in 1955}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/dow-jones/1955}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-11-01}}