According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for used cars and trucks were 392.12% higher in 2019 versus 1952 (a $66,661 difference in value).
Between 1952 and 2019: Used cars and trucks experienced an average inflation rate of 2.41% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, used cars and trucks costing $17,000 in the year 1952 would cost $83,661 in 2019 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.44% 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 $17,000 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 | $17,000.00 | - |
1953 | $16,000.81 | -5.88% |
1954 | $13,611.05 | -14.94% |
1955 | $12,855.90 | -5.55% |
1956 | $12,381.64 | -3.69% |
1957 | $13,859.70 | 11.94% |
1958 | $14,370.80 | 3.69% |
1959 | $16,046.86 | 11.66% |
1960 | $14,997.02 | -6.54% |
1961 | $15,572.59 | 3.84% |
1962 | $16,990.79 | 9.11% |
1963 | $17,198.00 | 1.22% |
1964 | $17,930.12 | 4.26% |
1965 | $17,824.21 | -0.59% |
1966 | $17,377.57 | -2.51% |
1967 | $17,930.12 | 3.18% |
1968 | $18,386.74 | 2.55% |
1969 | $18,482.67 | 0.52% |
1970 | $18,689.87 | 1.12% |
1971 | $19,758.13 | 5.72% |
1972 | $19,790.36 | 0.16% |
1973 | $21,065.82 | 6.44% |
1974 | $21,963.71 | 4.26% |
1975 | $26,250.54 | 19.52% |
1976 | $30,099.95 | 14.66% |
1977 | $32,765.98 | 8.86% |
1978 | $33,429.04 | 2.02% |
1979 | $36,039.82 | 7.81% |
1980 | $37,301.46 | 3.50% |
1981 | $46,040.90 | 23.43% |
1982 | $53,141.12 | 15.42% |
1983 | $59,094.80 | 11.20% |
1984 | $67,350.76 | 13.97% |
1985 | $68,064.46 | 1.06% |
1986 | $65,117.55 | -4.33% |
1987 | $67,696.10 | 3.96% |
1988 | $70,615.38 | 4.31% |
1989 | $72,088.84 | 2.09% |
1990 | $70,375.95 | -2.38% |
1991 | $70,707.48 | 0.47% |
1992 | $73,728.06 | 4.27% |
1993 | $80,142.20 | 8.70% |
1994 | $84,797.40 | 5.81% |
1995 | $93,651.95 | 10.44% |
1996 | $94,001.90 | 0.37% |
1997 | $90,461.00 | -3.77% |
1998 | $90,152.49 | -0.34% |
1999 | $91,004.33 | 0.94% |
2000 | $93,237.54 | 2.45% |
2001 | $94,996.48 | 1.89% |
2002 | $90,972.10 | -4.24% |
2003 | $85,547.94 | -5.96% |
2004 | $79,806.07 | -6.71% |
2005 | $83,466.68 | 4.59% |
2006 | $83,798.21 | 0.40% |
2007 | $81,256.82 | -3.03% |
2008 | $80,182.03 | -1.32% |
2009 | $76,004.83 | -5.21% |
2010 | $85,675.26 | 12.72% |
2011 | $89,196.45 | 4.11% |
2012 | $89,986.36 | 0.89% |
2013 | $89,721.00 | -0.29% |
2014 | $89,246.27 | -0.53% |
2015 | $88,064.51 | -1.32% |
2016 | $85,890.89 | -2.47% |
2017 | $82,760.67 | -3.64% |
2018 | $82,836.09 | 0.09% |
2019 | $83,661.00 | 1.00% |
2020 | $86,329.61 | 3.19% |
2021 | $109,319.76 | 26.63% |
2022 | $123,254.88 | 12.75% |
2023 | $114,463.92 | -7.13% |
2024 | $107,807.73 | -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 |