Vehicles priced at $15 in 1955 $48.90 in 2018

Vehicles Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Vehicles, 1955-2018 ($15)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new vehicles were 225.97% higher in 2018 versus 1955 (a $33.90 difference in value).

Between 1955 and 2018: Vehicles experienced an average inflation rate of 1.89% per year. In other words, vehicles costing $15 in the year 1955 would cost $48.90 in 2018 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.62% during this same period, inflation for vehicles was lower.

In the year 1955: Pricing changed by -3.51%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for vehicles during the 1955-2018 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1955 (-0.29%), inflation for vehicles was much 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%).

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Buying power of $15.00 since 1955

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Vehicles, over time, for $15 beginning in 1955. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1955$15.00-3.51%
1956$15.422.81%
1957$16.235.22%
1958$16.753.22%
1959$17.464.27%
1960$17.24-1.30%
1961$17.23-0.01%
1962$17.17-0.39%
1963$17.06-0.60%
1964$17.02-0.29%
1965$16.64-2.19%
1966$16.34-1.81%
1967$16.490.93%
1968$16.942.73%
1969$17.221.62%
1970$17.763.14%
1971$18.484.04%
1972$18.31-0.88%
1973$18.320.03%
1974$19.385.80%
1975$21.058.62%
1976$22.386.33%
1977$23.575.31%
1978$25.377.62%
1979$27.387.94%
1980$29.577.99%
1981$31.386.10%
1982$32.583.84%
1983$33.382.46%
1984$34.302.76%
1985$35.453.34%
1986$36.974.29%
1987$38.233.42%
1988$38.941.86%
1989$39.832.27%
1990$40.581.88%
1991$42.113.78%
1992$43.192.56%
1993$44.372.73%
1994$45.993.65%
1995$47.112.45%
1996$48.021.93%
1997$48.220.41%
1998$47.94-0.57%
1999$47.75-0.40%
2000$47.72-0.08%
2001$47.50-0.45%
2002$46.79-1.48%
2003$46.08-1.53%
2004$45.81-0.57%
2005$46.100.62%
2006$45.99-0.23%
2007$45.54-0.97%
2008$44.85-1.51%
2009$45.331.07%
2010$46.131.76%
2011$47.422.81%
2012$48.211.66%
2013$48.731.08%
2014$48.890.34%
2015$49.180.59%
2016$49.250.15%
2017$49.13-0.25%
2018$48.90-0.48%
2019$49.080.37%
2020$49.340.52%
2021$52.225.85%
2022$57.6510.39%
2023$59.803.72%
2024$59.69-0.17%*

* 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 2018 / CPI in 1955 * 1955 USD value = 2018 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for New vehicles was 44.877 in the year 1955 and 146.287 in 2018:

146.287 / 44.877 * $15 = $48.90

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $15 in 1955 has the same "purchasing power" as $48.90 in 2018 (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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