Vehicles priced at $1 in 1954 $0.96 in 1955

Vehicles Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Vehicles, 1954-1955 ($1)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new vehicles were 3.51% lower in 1955 versus 1954 (a $0.04 difference in value).

Between 1954 and 1955: Vehicles experienced an average inflation rate of -3.51% per year. This rate of change indicates significant deflation. In other words, vehicles costing $1 in the year 1954 would cost $0.96 in 1955 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of -0.29% during this same period, inflation for vehicles was significantly lower.

In the year 1954: Pricing changed by -1.58%, which is above the average yearly change for vehicles during the 1954-1955 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1954 (0.34%), inflation for vehicles was lower.

Price Inflation for New vehicles since 1935

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1947 (50%), 2022 (10.39%), and 1949 (9.10%).

View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $1.00 since 1954

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Vehicles, over time, for $1 beginning in 1954. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1954$1.00-1.58%
1955$0.96-3.51%
1956$0.992.81%
1957$1.045.22%
1958$1.083.22%
1959$1.124.27%
1960$1.11-1.30%
1961$1.11-0.01%
1962$1.10-0.39%
1963$1.10-0.60%
1964$1.09-0.29%
1965$1.07-2.19%
1966$1.05-1.81%
1967$1.060.93%
1968$1.092.73%
1969$1.111.62%
1970$1.143.14%
1971$1.194.04%
1972$1.18-0.88%
1973$1.180.03%
1974$1.255.80%
1975$1.358.62%
1976$1.446.33%
1977$1.525.31%
1978$1.637.62%
1979$1.767.94%
1980$1.907.99%
1981$2.026.10%
1982$2.103.84%
1983$2.152.46%
1984$2.212.76%
1985$2.283.34%
1986$2.384.29%
1987$2.463.42%
1988$2.511.86%
1989$2.562.27%
1990$2.611.88%
1991$2.713.78%
1992$2.782.56%
1993$2.852.73%
1994$2.963.65%
1995$3.032.45%
1996$3.091.93%
1997$3.100.41%
1998$3.08-0.57%
1999$3.07-0.40%
2000$3.07-0.08%
2001$3.06-0.45%
2002$3.01-1.48%
2003$2.96-1.53%
2004$2.95-0.57%
2005$2.970.62%
2006$2.96-0.23%
2007$2.93-0.97%
2008$2.89-1.51%
2009$2.921.07%
2010$2.971.76%
2011$3.052.81%
2012$3.101.66%
2013$3.131.08%
2014$3.150.34%
2015$3.160.59%
2016$3.170.15%
2017$3.16-0.25%
2018$3.15-0.48%
2019$3.160.37%
2020$3.170.52%
2021$3.365.85%
2022$3.7110.39%
2023$3.853.72%
2024$3.84-0.17%*

* 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:

Year193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI20.30020.40020.80021.80021.30021.40023.00023.00023.00023.00023.00023.00034.50037.58041.00041.22043.36046.94047.25446.50844.87746.13848.54650.10852.24651.56951.56251.36251.05450.90849.79248.89249.34650.69251.51553.13155.27754.79254.80857.98562.98566.96970.52375.90081.92388.46993.86997.47799.877102.631106.054110.600114.385116.515119.162121.400125.985129.208132.738137.585140.954143.669144.254143.438142.862142.754142.108140.000137.854137.062137.908137.585136.254134.194135.623138.005141.883144.232145.783146.275147.135147.358146.992146.287146.834147.600156.240172.480178.899178.594

Adjust vehicles prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 1955 / CPI in 1954 * 1954 USD value = 1955 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for New vehicles was 46.508 in the year 1954 and 44.877 in 1955:

44.877 / 46.508 * $1 = $0.96

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $1 in 1954 has the same "purchasing power" as $0.96 in 1955 (in the CPI category of New vehicles).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for New vehicles in 1935. In addition to vehicles, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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