According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new vehicles were 166.91% higher in 2018 versus 1973 (a $42,394,899,368.42 difference in value).
Between 1973 and 2018: Vehicles experienced an average inflation rate of 2.21% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, vehicles costing $25,400,000,000 in the year 1973 would cost $67,794,899,368.42 in 2018 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.93% during this same period, inflation for vehicles was lower.
In the year 1973: Pricing changed by 0.03%, which is below the average yearly change for vehicles during the 1973-2018 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1973 (6.18%), inflation for vehicles was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Vehicles, over time, for $25,400,000,000 beginning in 1973. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
---|---|---|
1973 | $25,400,000,000.00 | 0.03% |
1974 | $26,872,308,771.93 | 5.80% |
1975 | $29,189,501,754.39 | 8.62% |
1976 | $31,036,126,315.79 | 6.33% |
1977 | $32,683,115,789.47 | 5.31% |
1978 | $35,174,989,473.68 | 7.62% |
1979 | $37,966,315,789.47 | 7.94% |
1980 | $41,000,056,140.35 | 7.99% |
1981 | $43,502,624,561.40 | 6.10% |
1982 | $45,174,568,421.05 | 3.84% |
1983 | $46,286,821,052.63 | 2.46% |
1984 | $47,563,059,649.12 | 2.76% |
1985 | $49,149,445,614.04 | 3.34% |
1986 | $51,256,308,771.93 | 4.29% |
1987 | $53,010,245,614.04 | 3.42% |
1988 | $53,997,726,315.79 | 1.86% |
1989 | $55,224,056,140.35 | 2.27% |
1990 | $56,261,445,614.04 | 1.88% |
1991 | $58,386,133,333.33 | 3.78% |
1992 | $59,879,831,578.95 | 2.56% |
1993 | $61,516,126,315.79 | 2.73% |
1994 | $63,762,021,052.63 | 3.65% |
1995 | $65,323,452,631.58 | 2.45% |
1996 | $66,581,866,666.67 | 1.93% |
1997 | $66,852,800,000.00 | 0.41% |
1998 | $66,474,919,298.25 | -0.57% |
1999 | $66,207,550,877.19 | -0.40% |
2000 | $66,157,642,105.26 | -0.08% |
2001 | $65,858,189,473.68 | -0.45% |
2002 | $64,881,403,508.77 | -1.48% |
2003 | $63,886,792,982.46 | -1.53% |
2004 | $63,519,607,017.54 | -0.57% |
2005 | $63,911,747,368.42 | 0.62% |
2006 | $63,762,021,052.63 | -0.23% |
2007 | $63,145,540,771.93 | -0.97% |
2008 | $62,190,536,421.05 | -1.51% |
2009 | $62,853,111,017.54 | 1.07% |
2010 | $63,957,057,403.51 | 1.76% |
2011 | $65,754,236,631.58 | 2.81% |
2012 | $66,842,711,298.25 | 1.66% |
2013 | $67,561,611,508.77 | 1.08% |
2014 | $67,789,409,403.51 | 0.34% |
2015 | $68,188,037,894.74 | 0.59% |
2016 | $68,291,170,807.02 | 0.15% |
2017 | $68,121,873,122.81 | -0.25% |
2018 | $67,794,899,368.42 | -0.48% |
2019 | $68,048,542,877.19 | 0.37% |
2020 | $68,403,643,789.47 | 0.52% |
2021 | $72,407,824,561.40 | 5.85% |
2022 | $79,933,960,421.05 | 10.39% |
2023 | $82,908,594,526.32 | 3.72% |
2024 | $82,713,593,824.56 | -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 |