According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for used cars and trucks were 392.12% higher in 2019 versus 1952 (a $58,818.53 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 $15,000 in the year 1952 would cost $73,818.53 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 $15,000 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 | $15,000.00 | - |
1953 | $14,118.36 | -5.88% |
1954 | $12,009.75 | -14.94% |
1955 | $11,343.45 | -5.55% |
1956 | $10,924.97 | -3.69% |
1957 | $12,229.14 | 11.94% |
1958 | $12,680.12 | 3.69% |
1959 | $14,158.99 | 11.66% |
1960 | $13,232.67 | -6.54% |
1961 | $13,740.52 | 3.84% |
1962 | $14,991.87 | 9.11% |
1963 | $15,174.70 | 1.22% |
1964 | $15,820.69 | 4.26% |
1965 | $15,727.25 | -0.59% |
1966 | $15,333.15 | -2.51% |
1967 | $15,820.69 | 3.18% |
1968 | $16,223.59 | 2.55% |
1969 | $16,308.23 | 0.52% |
1970 | $16,491.06 | 1.12% |
1971 | $17,433.64 | 5.72% |
1972 | $17,462.08 | 0.16% |
1973 | $18,587.49 | 6.44% |
1974 | $19,379.74 | 4.26% |
1975 | $23,162.24 | 19.52% |
1976 | $26,558.78 | 14.66% |
1977 | $28,911.16 | 8.86% |
1978 | $29,496.21 | 2.02% |
1979 | $31,799.84 | 7.81% |
1980 | $32,913.06 | 3.50% |
1981 | $40,624.32 | 23.43% |
1982 | $46,889.22 | 15.42% |
1983 | $52,142.47 | 11.20% |
1984 | $59,427.14 | 13.97% |
1985 | $60,056.88 | 1.06% |
1986 | $57,456.66 | -4.33% |
1987 | $59,731.85 | 3.96% |
1988 | $62,307.69 | 4.31% |
1989 | $63,607.80 | 2.09% |
1990 | $62,096.42 | -2.38% |
1991 | $62,388.95 | 0.47% |
1992 | $65,054.17 | 4.27% |
1993 | $70,713.71 | 8.70% |
1994 | $74,821.24 | 5.81% |
1995 | $82,634.07 | 10.44% |
1996 | $82,942.85 | 0.37% |
1997 | $79,818.53 | -3.77% |
1998 | $79,546.32 | -0.34% |
1999 | $80,297.94 | 0.94% |
2000 | $82,268.42 | 2.45% |
2001 | $83,820.42 | 1.89% |
2002 | $80,269.50 | -4.24% |
2003 | $75,483.48 | -5.96% |
2004 | $70,417.12 | -6.71% |
2005 | $73,647.07 | 4.59% |
2006 | $73,939.60 | 0.40% |
2007 | $71,697.20 | -3.03% |
2008 | $70,748.85 | -1.32% |
2009 | $67,063.08 | -5.21% |
2010 | $75,595.82 | 12.72% |
2011 | $78,702.75 | 4.11% |
2012 | $79,399.73 | 0.89% |
2013 | $79,165.59 | -0.29% |
2014 | $78,746.71 | -0.53% |
2015 | $77,703.98 | -1.32% |
2016 | $75,786.08 | -2.47% |
2017 | $73,024.12 | -3.64% |
2018 | $73,090.67 | 0.09% |
2019 | $73,818.53 | 1.00% |
2020 | $76,173.19 | 3.19% |
2021 | $96,458.61 | 26.63% |
2022 | $108,754.31 | 12.75% |
2023 | $100,997.58 | -7.13% |
2024 | $95,124.47 | -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 |