According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for used cars and trucks were 387.27% higher in 2018 versus 1952 (a $120,054.05 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 $31,000 in the year 1952 would cost $151,054.05 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 $31,000 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 | $31,000.00 | - |
1953 | $29,177.95 | -5.88% |
1954 | $24,820.15 | -14.94% |
1955 | $23,443.12 | -5.55% |
1956 | $22,578.28 | -3.69% |
1957 | $25,273.56 | 11.94% |
1958 | $26,205.58 | 3.69% |
1959 | $29,261.92 | 11.66% |
1960 | $27,347.51 | -6.54% |
1961 | $28,397.07 | 3.84% |
1962 | $30,983.21 | 9.11% |
1963 | $31,361.05 | 1.22% |
1964 | $32,696.10 | 4.26% |
1965 | $32,502.98 | -0.59% |
1966 | $31,688.52 | -2.51% |
1967 | $32,696.10 | 3.18% |
1968 | $33,528.76 | 2.55% |
1969 | $33,703.68 | 0.52% |
1970 | $34,081.53 | 1.12% |
1971 | $36,029.52 | 5.72% |
1972 | $36,088.30 | 0.16% |
1973 | $38,414.14 | 6.44% |
1974 | $40,051.46 | 4.26% |
1975 | $47,868.63 | 19.52% |
1976 | $54,888.14 | 14.66% |
1977 | $59,749.73 | 8.86% |
1978 | $60,958.83 | 2.02% |
1979 | $65,719.66 | 7.81% |
1980 | $68,020.31 | 3.50% |
1981 | $83,956.93 | 23.43% |
1982 | $96,904.39 | 15.42% |
1983 | $107,761.11 | 11.20% |
1984 | $122,816.09 | 13.97% |
1985 | $124,117.55 | 1.06% |
1986 | $118,743.77 | -4.33% |
1987 | $123,445.83 | 3.96% |
1988 | $128,769.23 | 4.31% |
1989 | $131,456.12 | 2.09% |
1990 | $128,332.61 | -2.38% |
1991 | $128,937.16 | 0.47% |
1992 | $134,445.29 | 4.27% |
1993 | $146,141.66 | 8.70% |
1994 | $154,630.55 | 5.81% |
1995 | $170,777.09 | 10.44% |
1996 | $171,415.22 | 0.37% |
1997 | $164,958.29 | -3.77% |
1998 | $164,395.72 | -0.34% |
1999 | $165,949.08 | 0.94% |
2000 | $170,021.40 | 2.45% |
2001 | $173,228.87 | 1.89% |
2002 | $165,890.30 | -4.24% |
2003 | $155,999.19 | -5.96% |
2004 | $145,528.71 | -6.71% |
2005 | $152,203.95 | 4.59% |
2006 | $152,808.50 | 0.40% |
2007 | $148,174.21 | -3.03% |
2008 | $146,214.29 | -1.32% |
2009 | $138,597.04 | -5.21% |
2010 | $156,231.35 | 12.72% |
2011 | $162,652.35 | 4.11% |
2012 | $164,092.77 | 0.89% |
2013 | $163,608.88 | -0.29% |
2014 | $162,743.20 | -0.53% |
2015 | $160,588.23 | -1.32% |
2016 | $156,624.56 | -2.47% |
2017 | $150,916.51 | -3.64% |
2018 | $151,054.05 | 0.09% |
2019 | $152,558.29 | 1.00% |
2020 | $157,424.58 | 3.19% |
2021 | $199,347.80 | 26.63% |
2022 | $224,758.90 | 12.75% |
2023 | $208,728.32 | -7.13% |
2024 | $196,160.14 | -6.02%* |
* 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 | 179.708 |