According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new cars were 113.57% higher in 2019 versus 1976 (a $17,034.80 difference in value).
Between 1976 and 2019: Cars experienced an average inflation rate of 1.78% per year. In other words, cars costing $15,000 in the year 1976 would cost $32,034.80 in 2019 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.55% during this same period, inflation for cars was lower.
In the year 1976: Pricing changed by 6.33%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for cars during the 1976-2019 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1976 (5.75%), inflation for cars was higher.
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 | 142.857 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Cars, over time, for $15000 beginning in 1976. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | $15,000.00 | 6.33% |
| 1977 | $15,796.06 | 5.31% |
| 1978 | $16,997.63 | 7.61% |
| 1979 | $18,346.83 | 7.94% |
| 1980 | $19,813.75 | 8.00% |
| 1981 | $21,022.80 | 6.10% |
| 1982 | $21,833.81 | 3.86% |
| 1983 | $22,394.42 | 2.57% |
| 1984 | $23,042.86 | 2.90% |
| 1985 | $23,779.12 | 3.20% |
| 1986 | $24,805.03 | 4.31% |
| 1987 | $25,698.27 | 3.60% |
| 1988 | $26,206.55 | 1.98% |
| 1989 | $26,739.13 | 2.03% |
| 1990 | $27,127.82 | 1.45% |
| 1991 | $28,103.28 | 3.60% |
| 1992 | $28,785.35 | 2.43% |
| 1993 | $29,486.11 | 2.43% |
| 1994 | $30,493.33 | 3.42% |
| 1995 | $31,173.54 | 2.23% |
| 1996 | $31,711.72 | 1.73% |
| 1997 | $31,769.65 | 0.18% |
| 1998 | $31,551.02 | -0.69% |
| 1999 | $31,293.14 | -0.82% |
| 2000 | $31,293.14 | 0.00% |
| 2001 | $31,152.98 | -0.45% |
| 2002 | $30,786.72 | -1.18% |
| 2003 | $30,203.69 | -1.89% |
| 2004 | $30,033.64 | -0.56% |
| 2005 | $30,325.15 | 0.97% |
| 2006 | $30,588.64 | 0.87% |
| 2007 | $30,465.62 | -0.40% |
| 2008 | $30,361.22 | -0.34% |
| 2009 | $30,650.92 | 0.95% |
| 2010 | $30,967.22 | 1.03% |
| 2011 | $31,894.14 | 2.99% |
| 2012 | $32,331.57 | 1.37% |
| 2013 | $32,498.65 | 0.52% |
| 2014 | $32,396.41 | -0.31% |
| 2015 | $32,379.39 | -0.05% |
| 2016 | $32,221.11 | -0.49% |
| 2017 | $31,988.81 | -0.72% |
| 2018 | $31,835.60 | -0.48% |
| 2019 | $32,034.80 | 0.63%* |