Used cars and trucks priced at $500 in 1971 $2,117.13 in 2019

Used Cars And Trucks Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Used Cars And Trucks, 1971-2019 ($500)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for used cars and trucks were 323.43% higher in 2019 versus 1971 (a $1,617.13 difference in value).

Between 1971 and 2019: Used cars and trucks experienced an average inflation rate of 3.05% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, used cars and trucks costing $500 in the year 1971 would cost $2,117.13 in 2019 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.91% during this same period, inflation for used cars and trucks was lower.

In the year 1971: Pricing changed by 5.72%, which is above the average yearly change for used cars and trucks during the 1971-2019 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1971 (4.30%), inflation for used cars and trucks was higher.

Price Inflation for Used cars and trucks since 1952

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2021 (26.63%), 1981 (23.43%), and 1975 (19.52%).

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Buying power of $500.00 since 1971

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Used cars and trucks, over time, for $500 beginning in 1971. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1971$500.005.72%
1972$500.820.16%
1973$533.096.44%
1974$555.814.26%
1975$664.3019.52%
1976$761.7114.66%
1977$829.188.86%
1978$845.962.02%
1979$912.037.81%
1980$943.953.50%
1981$1,165.1123.43%
1982$1,344.7915.42%
1983$1,495.4611.20%
1984$1,704.3813.97%
1985$1,722.441.06%
1986$1,647.87-4.33%
1987$1,713.123.96%
1988$1,787.004.31%
1989$1,824.282.09%
1990$1,780.94-2.38%
1991$1,789.330.47%
1992$1,865.774.27%
1993$2,028.088.70%
1994$2,145.895.81%
1995$2,369.9610.44%
1996$2,378.820.37%
1997$2,289.21-3.77%
1998$2,281.40-0.34%
1999$2,302.960.94%
2000$2,359.472.45%
2001$2,403.991.89%
2002$2,302.14-4.24%
2003$2,164.88-5.96%
2004$2,019.58-6.71%
2005$2,112.214.59%
2006$2,120.600.40%
2007$2,056.29-3.03%
2008$2,029.09-1.32%
2009$1,923.38-5.21%
2010$2,168.1012.72%
2011$2,257.214.11%
2012$2,277.200.89%
2013$2,270.48-0.29%
2014$2,258.47-0.53%
2015$2,228.56-1.32%
2016$2,173.56-2.47%
2017$2,094.35-3.64%
2018$2,096.250.09%
2019$2,117.131.00%
2020$2,184.663.19%
2021$2,766.4526.63%
2022$3,119.0912.75%
2023$2,896.63-7.13%
2024$2,722.21-6.02%*

* 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:

Year1952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI28.40026.73122.73821.47720.68523.15424.00826.80825.05426.01528.38528.73129.95429.77729.03129.95430.71730.87731.22333.00833.06235.19236.69243.85450.28554.73855.84660.20862.31576.91588.77798.723112.515113.708108.785113.092117.969120.431117.569118.123123.169133.885141.662156.454157.038151.123150.608152.031155.762158.700151.977142.915133.323139.438139.992135.747133.951126.973143.128149.011150.330149.887149.094147.120143.488138.259138.385139.763144.221182.628205.908191.222179.708

Adjust used cars and trucks prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2019 / CPI in 1971 * 1971 USD value = 2019 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Used cars and trucks was 33.008 in the year 1971 and 139.763 in 2019:

139.763 / 33.008 * $500 = $2,117.13

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $500 in 1971 has the same "purchasing power" as $2,117.13 in 2019 (in the CPI category of Used cars and trucks).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Used cars and trucks in 1952. In addition to used cars and trucks, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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