Vehicles priced at $1 in 1973 $1.06 in 1974

Vehicles Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Vehicles, 1973-1974 ($1)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new vehicles were 5.80% higher in 1974 versus 1973 (a $0.06 difference in value).

Between 1973 and 1974: Vehicles experienced an average inflation rate of 5.80% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, vehicles costing $1 in the year 1973 would cost $1.06 in 1974 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 11.05% during this same period, inflation for vehicles was significantly lower.

In the year 1973: Pricing changed by 0.03%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for vehicles during the 1973-1974 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1973 (6.18%), 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%).

View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $1.00 since 1973

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Vehicles, over time, for $1 beginning in 1973. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1973$1.000.03%
1974$1.065.80%
1975$1.158.62%
1976$1.226.33%
1977$1.295.31%
1978$1.387.62%
1979$1.497.94%
1980$1.617.99%
1981$1.716.10%
1982$1.783.84%
1983$1.822.46%
1984$1.872.76%
1985$1.943.34%
1986$2.024.29%
1987$2.093.42%
1988$2.131.86%
1989$2.172.27%
1990$2.221.88%
1991$2.303.78%
1992$2.362.56%
1993$2.422.73%
1994$2.513.65%
1995$2.572.45%
1996$2.621.93%
1997$2.630.41%
1998$2.62-0.57%
1999$2.61-0.40%
2000$2.60-0.08%
2001$2.59-0.45%
2002$2.55-1.48%
2003$2.52-1.53%
2004$2.50-0.57%
2005$2.520.62%
2006$2.51-0.23%
2007$2.49-0.97%
2008$2.45-1.51%
2009$2.471.07%
2010$2.521.76%
2011$2.592.81%
2012$2.631.66%
2013$2.661.08%
2014$2.670.34%
2015$2.680.59%
2016$2.690.15%
2017$2.68-0.25%
2018$2.67-0.48%
2019$2.680.37%
2020$2.690.52%
2021$2.855.85%
2022$3.1510.39%
2023$3.263.72%
2024$3.26-0.17%*

* 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 1974 / CPI in 1973 * 1973 USD value = 1974 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for New vehicles was 54.808 in the year 1973 and 57.985 in 1974:

57.985 / 54.808 * $1 = $1.06

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $1 in 1973 has the same "purchasing power" as $1.06 in 1974 (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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