According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for used cars and trucks were 387.27% higher in 2018 versus 1952 (a $193,635.56 difference in value).
Between 1952 and 2018: Used cars and trucks experienced an average inflation rate of 2.43% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, used cars and trucks costing $50,000 in the year 1952 would cost $243,635.56 in 2018 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.46% during this same period, inflation for used cars and trucks was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Used cars and trucks, over time, for $50,000 beginning in 1952. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
---|---|---|
1952 | $50,000.00 | - |
1953 | $47,061.21 | -5.88% |
1954 | $40,032.50 | -14.94% |
1955 | $37,811.48 | -5.55% |
1956 | $36,416.58 | -3.69% |
1957 | $40,763.81 | 11.94% |
1958 | $42,267.06 | 3.69% |
1959 | $47,196.64 | 11.66% |
1960 | $44,108.88 | -6.54% |
1961 | $45,801.73 | 3.84% |
1962 | $49,972.91 | 9.11% |
1963 | $50,582.34 | 1.22% |
1964 | $52,735.64 | 4.26% |
1965 | $52,424.16 | -0.59% |
1966 | $51,110.51 | -2.51% |
1967 | $52,735.64 | 3.18% |
1968 | $54,078.64 | 2.55% |
1969 | $54,360.78 | 0.52% |
1970 | $54,970.21 | 1.12% |
1971 | $58,112.13 | 5.72% |
1972 | $58,206.93 | 0.16% |
1973 | $61,958.29 | 6.44% |
1974 | $64,599.13 | 4.26% |
1975 | $77,207.48 | 19.52% |
1976 | $88,529.25 | 14.66% |
1977 | $96,370.53 | 8.86% |
1978 | $98,320.69 | 2.02% |
1979 | $105,999.46 | 7.81% |
1980 | $109,710.18 | 3.50% |
1981 | $135,414.41 | 23.43% |
1982 | $156,297.40 | 15.42% |
1983 | $173,808.23 | 11.20% |
1984 | $198,090.47 | 13.97% |
1985 | $200,189.60 | 1.06% |
1986 | $191,522.21 | -4.33% |
1987 | $199,106.18 | 3.96% |
1988 | $207,692.31 | 4.31% |
1989 | $212,026.00 | 2.09% |
1990 | $206,988.08 | -2.38% |
1991 | $207,963.16 | 0.47% |
1992 | $216,847.24 | 4.27% |
1993 | $235,712.35 | 8.70% |
1994 | $249,404.12 | 5.81% |
1995 | $275,446.91 | 10.44% |
1996 | $276,476.16 | 0.37% |
1997 | $266,061.76 | -3.77% |
1998 | $265,154.39 | -0.34% |
1999 | $267,659.80 | 0.94% |
2000 | $274,228.06 | 2.45% |
2001 | $279,401.41 | 1.89% |
2002 | $267,565.01 | -4.24% |
2003 | $251,611.59 | -5.96% |
2004 | $234,723.73 | -6.71% |
2005 | $245,490.25 | 4.59% |
2006 | $246,465.33 | 0.40% |
2007 | $238,990.66 | -3.03% |
2008 | $235,829.50 | -1.32% |
2009 | $223,543.61 | -5.21% |
2010 | $251,986.05 | 12.72% |
2011 | $262,342.50 | 4.11% |
2012 | $264,665.76 | 0.89% |
2013 | $263,885.29 | -0.29% |
2014 | $262,489.03 | -0.53% |
2015 | $259,013.27 | -1.32% |
2016 | $252,620.26 | -2.47% |
2017 | $243,413.73 | -3.64% |
2018 | $243,635.56 | 0.09% |
2019 | $246,061.76 | 1.00% |
2020 | $253,910.62 | 3.19% |
2021 | $321,528.71 | 26.63% |
2022 | $362,514.36 | 12.75% |
2023 | $336,658.59 | -7.13% |
2024 | $317,081.57 | -5.82%* |
* 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 Used cars and trucks:
Year | 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 | 28.400 | 26.731 | 22.738 | 21.477 | 20.685 | 23.154 | 24.008 | 26.808 | 25.054 | 26.015 | 28.385 | 28.731 | 29.954 | 29.777 | 29.031 | 29.954 | 30.717 | 30.877 | 31.223 | 33.008 | 33.062 | 35.192 | 36.692 | 43.854 | 50.285 | 54.738 | 55.846 | 60.208 | 62.315 | 76.915 | 88.777 | 98.723 | 112.515 | 113.708 | 108.785 | 113.092 | 117.969 | 120.431 | 117.569 | 118.123 | 123.169 | 133.885 | 141.662 | 156.454 | 157.038 | 151.123 | 150.608 | 152.031 | 155.762 | 158.700 | 151.977 | 142.915 | 133.323 | 139.438 | 139.992 | 135.747 | 133.951 | 126.973 | 143.128 | 149.011 | 150.330 | 149.887 | 149.094 | 147.120 | 143.488 | 138.259 | 138.385 | 139.763 | 144.221 | 182.628 | 205.908 | 191.222 | 180.102 |