S&P 500 in 1954
The S&P 500 rose 45.0% in 1954, from 24.81 at the end of 1953 to 35.98. Its highest close was 35.98 on Dec 31 — a record that stood until January 3, 1955, and its lowest 24.80 on Jan 11. The biggest one-day fall was −2.2% on Jun 8 and the biggest rise +2.8% on Dec 17. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 46.1%.
S&P 500, daily closes 1954
Numbers mark the events belowKey Events in 1954
What happened, and how the S&P 500 moved — on the day (or the next trading day) and about a month later.
- 1
Tuesday, June 8 From the dataBiggest one-day fall of the year: −2.2%.
- 2
Wednesday, September 22 From the dataS&P 500 sets the first of 22 record closing highs this year, at 32.00. Back above its pre-bear-market peak of 31.86 (September 16, 1929).
- 3
Friday, December 17 From the dataBiggest one-day rise of the year: +2.8%.
- 4
Friday, December 31 From the dataLast record close of the year: 35.98.
Biggest days of 1954
| Best days | Worst days | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec 17 | +2.8% | Jun 8 | −2.2% |
| Nov 3 | +2.0% | Aug 31 | −1.7% |
| Apr 29 | +1.5% | Dec 20 | −1.6% |
| Nov 23 | +1.3% | Aug 6 | −1.3% |
| Jul 2 | +1.3% | Oct 14 | −1.2% |
Volatility: 9.4% (annualised standard deviation of daily changes).
Month by month
| Month | Close | Change |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 26.08 | +5.1% |
| Feb | 26.15 | +0.3% |
| Mar | 26.94 | +3.0% |
| Apr | 28.26 | +4.9% |
| May | 29.19 | +3.3% |
| Jun | 29.21 | +0.1% |
| Jul | 30.88 | +5.7% |
| Aug | 29.83 | −3.4% |
| Sep | 32.31 | +8.3% |
| Oct | 31.68 | −1.9% |
| Nov | 34.24 | +8.1% |
| Dec | 35.98 | +5.1% |
Other Markets in 1954
Change over the calendar year.
| Market | Change | Year-end |
|---|---|---|
| S&P 500 | +45.0% | 35.98 |
| Dow Jones Industrial Average in 1954 | +44.0% | 404.39 |
S&P 500 in 1954: FAQ
How much did the S&P 500 rise in 1954?
The S&P 500 rose 45.0% in 1954, from 24.81 at the end of 1953 to 35.98. Its highest close was 35.98 on Dec 31 — a record that stood until January 3, 1955, and its lowest 24.80 on Jan 11. The biggest one-day fall was −2.2% on Jun 8 and the biggest rise +2.8% on Dec 17. Adjusted for inflation, it gained 46.1%.
What were the highest and lowest closes of the S&P 500 in 1954?
Highest: 35.98 on December 31, 1954. Lowest: 24.80 on January 11, 1954. It closed higher on 153 of 252 trading days.
Did the S&P 500 reach a record high in 1954?
Yes — 22 record closing highs, the last at 35.98 on December 31, 1954.
Data: Daily closes since 1950 (price index, excluding dividends). 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{corgano2026sp500in1954, author = {{Corgano}}, title = {S&P 500 in 1954}, howpublished = {\url{https://goldprice.corgano.com/market-history/sp-500/1954}}, year = {2026}, note = {Corgano Gold Price, accessed 2026-10-31}}