According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for used cars and trucks were 392.12% higher in 2019 versus 1952 (a $152,928.17 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 $39,000 in the year 1952 would cost $191,928.17 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 $39,000 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 | $39,000.00 | - |
1953 | $36,707.75 | -5.88% |
1954 | $31,225.35 | -14.94% |
1955 | $29,492.96 | -5.55% |
1956 | $28,404.93 | -3.69% |
1957 | $31,795.77 | 11.94% |
1958 | $32,968.31 | 3.69% |
1959 | $36,813.38 | 11.66% |
1960 | $34,404.93 | -6.54% |
1961 | $35,725.35 | 3.84% |
1962 | $38,978.87 | 9.11% |
1963 | $39,454.23 | 1.22% |
1964 | $41,133.80 | 4.26% |
1965 | $40,890.85 | -0.59% |
1966 | $39,866.20 | -2.51% |
1967 | $41,133.80 | 3.18% |
1968 | $42,181.34 | 2.55% |
1969 | $42,401.41 | 0.52% |
1970 | $42,876.76 | 1.12% |
1971 | $45,327.46 | 5.72% |
1972 | $45,401.41 | 0.16% |
1973 | $48,327.46 | 6.44% |
1974 | $50,387.32 | 4.26% |
1975 | $60,221.83 | 19.52% |
1976 | $69,052.82 | 14.66% |
1977 | $75,169.01 | 8.86% |
1978 | $76,690.14 | 2.02% |
1979 | $82,679.58 | 7.81% |
1980 | $85,573.94 | 3.50% |
1981 | $105,623.24 | 23.43% |
1982 | $121,911.97 | 15.42% |
1983 | $135,570.42 | 11.20% |
1984 | $154,510.56 | 13.97% |
1985 | $156,147.89 | 1.06% |
1986 | $149,387.32 | -4.33% |
1987 | $155,302.82 | 3.96% |
1988 | $162,000.00 | 4.31% |
1989 | $165,380.28 | 2.09% |
1990 | $161,450.70 | -2.38% |
1991 | $162,211.27 | 0.47% |
1992 | $169,140.85 | 4.27% |
1993 | $183,855.63 | 8.70% |
1994 | $194,535.21 | 5.81% |
1995 | $214,848.59 | 10.44% |
1996 | $215,651.41 | 0.37% |
1997 | $207,528.17 | -3.77% |
1998 | $206,820.42 | -0.34% |
1999 | $208,774.65 | 0.94% |
2000 | $213,897.89 | 2.45% |
2001 | $217,933.10 | 1.89% |
2002 | $208,700.70 | -4.24% |
2003 | $196,257.04 | -5.96% |
2004 | $183,084.51 | -6.71% |
2005 | $191,482.39 | 4.59% |
2006 | $192,242.96 | 0.40% |
2007 | $186,412.71 | -3.03% |
2008 | $183,947.01 | -1.32% |
2009 | $174,364.01 | -5.21% |
2010 | $196,549.12 | 12.72% |
2011 | $204,627.15 | 4.11% |
2012 | $206,439.30 | 0.89% |
2013 | $205,830.53 | -0.29% |
2014 | $204,741.44 | -0.53% |
2015 | $202,030.35 | -1.32% |
2016 | $197,043.80 | -2.47% |
2017 | $189,862.71 | -3.64% |
2018 | $190,035.74 | 0.09% |
2019 | $191,928.17 | 1.00% |
2020 | $198,050.28 | 3.19% |
2021 | $250,792.39 | 26.63% |
2022 | $282,761.20 | 12.75% |
2023 | $262,593.70 | -7.13% |
2024 | $247,323.63 | -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 |