According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new vehicles were 209.58% higher in 2018 versus 1953 (a $73,351.69 difference in value).
Between 1953 and 2018: Vehicles experienced an average inflation rate of 1.75% per year. In other words, vehicles costing $35,000 in the year 1953 would cost $108,351.69 in 2018 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.50% during this same period, inflation for vehicles was lower.
In the year 1953: Pricing changed by 0.67%, which is below the average yearly change for vehicles during the 1953-2018 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1953 (0.81%), inflation for vehicles was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Vehicles, over time, for $35,000 beginning in 1953. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
---|---|---|
1953 | $35,000.00 | 0.67% |
1954 | $34,447.34 | -1.58% |
1955 | $33,239.46 | -3.51% |
1956 | $34,173.86 | 2.81% |
1957 | $35,957.19 | 5.22% |
1958 | $37,113.79 | 3.22% |
1959 | $38,697.70 | 4.27% |
1960 | $38,196.32 | -1.30% |
1961 | $38,190.62 | -0.01% |
1962 | $38,042.49 | -0.39% |
1963 | $37,814.59 | -0.60% |
1964 | $37,706.33 | -0.29% |
1965 | $36,880.19 | -2.19% |
1966 | $36,213.58 | -1.81% |
1967 | $36,549.73 | 0.93% |
1968 | $37,546.80 | 2.73% |
1969 | $38,156.44 | 1.62% |
1970 | $39,352.92 | 3.14% |
1971 | $40,942.54 | 4.04% |
1972 | $40,583.59 | -0.88% |
1973 | $40,594.99 | 0.03% |
1974 | $42,948.07 | 5.80% |
1975 | $46,651.47 | 8.62% |
1976 | $49,602.80 | 6.33% |
1977 | $52,235.06 | 5.31% |
1978 | $56,217.65 | 7.62% |
1979 | $60,678.82 | 7.94% |
1980 | $65,527.43 | 7.99% |
1981 | $69,527.10 | 6.10% |
1982 | $72,199.25 | 3.84% |
1983 | $73,976.88 | 2.46% |
1984 | $76,016.60 | 2.76% |
1985 | $78,552.01 | 3.34% |
1986 | $81,919.26 | 4.29% |
1987 | $84,722.45 | 3.42% |
1988 | $86,300.67 | 1.86% |
1989 | $88,260.62 | 2.27% |
1990 | $89,918.61 | 1.88% |
1991 | $93,314.34 | 3.78% |
1992 | $95,701.61 | 2.56% |
1993 | $98,316.78 | 2.73% |
1994 | $101,906.23 | 3.65% |
1995 | $104,401.76 | 2.45% |
1996 | $106,412.99 | 1.93% |
1997 | $106,846.00 | 0.41% |
1998 | $106,242.06 | -0.57% |
1999 | $105,814.75 | -0.40% |
2000 | $105,734.98 | -0.08% |
2001 | $105,256.39 | -0.45% |
2002 | $103,695.26 | -1.48% |
2003 | $102,105.65 | -1.53% |
2004 | $101,518.80 | -0.57% |
2005 | $102,145.53 | 0.62% |
2006 | $101,906.23 | -0.23% |
2007 | $100,920.96 | -0.97% |
2008 | $99,394.64 | -1.51% |
2009 | $100,453.59 | 1.07% |
2010 | $102,217.95 | 1.76% |
2011 | $105,090.25 | 2.81% |
2012 | $106,829.88 | 1.66% |
2013 | $107,978.85 | 1.08% |
2014 | $108,342.92 | 0.34% |
2015 | $108,980.02 | 0.59% |
2016 | $109,144.85 | 0.15% |
2017 | $108,874.27 | -0.25% |
2018 | $108,351.69 | -0.48% |
2019 | $108,757.07 | 0.37% |
2020 | $109,324.61 | 0.52% |
2021 | $115,724.20 | 5.85% |
2022 | $127,752.68 | 10.39% |
2023 | $132,506.82 | 3.72% |
2024 | $132,195.17 | -0.24%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for New vehicles:
Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 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 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
CPI | 20.300 | 20.400 | 20.800 | 21.800 | 21.300 | 21.400 | 23.000 | 23.000 | 23.000 | 23.000 | 23.000 | 23.000 | 34.500 | 37.580 | 41.000 | 41.220 | 43.360 | 46.940 | 47.254 | 46.508 | 44.877 | 46.138 | 48.546 | 50.108 | 52.246 | 51.569 | 51.562 | 51.362 | 51.054 | 50.908 | 49.792 | 48.892 | 49.346 | 50.692 | 51.515 | 53.131 | 55.277 | 54.792 | 54.808 | 57.985 | 62.985 | 66.969 | 70.523 | 75.900 | 81.923 | 88.469 | 93.869 | 97.477 | 99.877 | 102.631 | 106.054 | 110.600 | 114.385 | 116.515 | 119.162 | 121.400 | 125.985 | 129.208 | 132.738 | 137.585 | 140.954 | 143.669 | 144.254 | 143.438 | 142.862 | 142.754 | 142.108 | 140.000 | 137.854 | 137.062 | 137.908 | 137.585 | 136.254 | 134.194 | 135.623 | 138.005 | 141.883 | 144.232 | 145.783 | 146.275 | 147.135 | 147.358 | 146.992 | 146.287 | 146.834 | 147.600 | 156.240 | 172.480 | 178.899 | 178.478 |