According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new cars were 158.23% higher in 2019 versus 1971 (a $23,735.18 difference in value).
Between 1971 and 2019: Cars experienced an average inflation rate of 2% per year. In other words, cars costing $15,000 in the year 1971 would cost $38,735.18 in 2019 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.88% during this same period, inflation for cars was lower.
In the year 1971: Pricing changed by 4.05%, which is above the average yearly change for cars during the 1971-2019 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1971 (4.30%), inflation for cars was lower.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for New cars:
| Year | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
| CPI | 47.242 | 46.442 | 44.833 | 46.042 | 48.475 | 50.017 | 52.175 | 51.500 | 51.517 | 51.317 | 51.000 | 50.858 | 49.717 | 48.817 | 49.275 | 50.650 | 51.458 | 53.058 | 55.208 | 54.742 | 54.758 | 57.933 | 62.908 | 66.892 | 70.442 | 75.800 | 81.817 | 88.358 | 93.750 | 97.367 | 99.867 | 102.758 | 106.042 | 110.617 | 114.600 | 116.867 | 119.242 | 120.975 | 125.325 | 128.367 | 131.492 | 135.983 | 139.017 | 141.417 | 141.675 | 140.700 | 139.550 | 139.550 | 138.925 | 137.292 | 134.692 | 133.933 | 135.233 | 136.408 | 135.860 | 135.394 | 136.686 | 138.097 | 142.230 | 144.181 | 144.926 | 144.470 | 144.394 | 143.688 | 142.652 | 141.969 | 142.567 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Cars, over time, for $15000 beginning in 1971. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | $15,000.00 | 4.05% |
| 1972 | $14,873.21 | -0.85% |
| 1973 | $14,877.74 | 0.03% |
| 1974 | $15,740.38 | 5.80% |
| 1975 | $17,092.08 | 8.59% |
| 1976 | $18,174.34 | 6.33% |
| 1977 | $19,138.87 | 5.31% |
| 1978 | $20,594.72 | 7.61% |
| 1979 | $22,229.43 | 7.94% |
| 1980 | $24,006.79 | 8.00% |
| 1981 | $25,471.70 | 6.10% |
| 1982 | $26,454.34 | 3.86% |
| 1983 | $27,133.58 | 2.57% |
| 1984 | $27,919.25 | 2.90% |
| 1985 | $28,811.32 | 3.20% |
| 1986 | $30,054.34 | 4.31% |
| 1987 | $31,136.60 | 3.60% |
| 1988 | $31,752.45 | 1.98% |
| 1989 | $32,397.74 | 2.03% |
| 1990 | $32,868.68 | 1.45% |
| 1991 | $34,050.57 | 3.60% |
| 1992 | $34,876.98 | 2.43% |
| 1993 | $35,726.04 | 2.43% |
| 1994 | $36,946.42 | 3.42% |
| 1995 | $37,770.57 | 2.23% |
| 1996 | $38,422.64 | 1.73% |
| 1997 | $38,492.83 | 0.18% |
| 1998 | $38,227.92 | -0.69% |
| 1999 | $37,915.47 | -0.82% |
| 2000 | $37,915.47 | 0.00% |
| 2001 | $37,745.66 | -0.45% |
| 2002 | $37,301.89 | -1.18% |
| 2003 | $36,595.47 | -1.89% |
| 2004 | $36,389.43 | -0.56% |
| 2005 | $36,742.64 | 0.97% |
| 2006 | $37,061.89 | 0.87% |
| 2007 | $36,912.84 | -0.40% |
| 2008 | $36,786.34 | -0.34% |
| 2009 | $37,137.35 | 0.95% |
| 2010 | $37,520.58 | 1.03% |
| 2011 | $38,643.67 | 2.99% |
| 2012 | $39,173.66 | 1.37% |
| 2013 | $39,376.10 | 0.52% |
| 2014 | $39,252.23 | -0.31% |
| 2015 | $39,231.60 | -0.05% |
| 2016 | $39,039.83 | -0.49% |
| 2017 | $38,758.37 | -0.72% |
| 2018 | $38,572.73 | -0.48% |
| 2019 | $38,735.18 | 0.42%* |