Used cars and trucks priced at $1 in 1988 $1.02 in 1989

Used Cars And Trucks Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Used Cars And Trucks, 1988-1989 ($1)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for used cars and trucks were 2.09% higher in 1989 versus 1988 (a $0.02 difference in value).

Between 1988 and 1989: Used cars and trucks experienced an average inflation rate of 2.09% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, used cars and trucks costing $1 in the year 1988 would cost $1.02 in 1989 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 4.83% during this same period, inflation for used cars and trucks was lower.

In the year 1988: Pricing changed by 4.31%, which is above the average yearly change for used cars and trucks during the 1988-1989 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1988 (4.08%), 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%).

View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $1.00 since 1988

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Used cars and trucks, over time, for $1 beginning in 1988. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1988$1.004.31%
1989$1.022.09%
1990$1.00-2.38%
1991$1.000.47%
1992$1.044.27%
1993$1.138.70%
1994$1.205.81%
1995$1.3310.44%
1996$1.330.37%
1997$1.28-3.77%
1998$1.28-0.34%
1999$1.290.94%
2000$1.322.45%
2001$1.351.89%
2002$1.29-4.24%
2003$1.21-5.96%
2004$1.13-6.71%
2005$1.184.59%
2006$1.190.40%
2007$1.15-3.03%
2008$1.14-1.32%
2009$1.08-5.21%
2010$1.2112.72%
2011$1.264.11%
2012$1.270.89%
2013$1.27-0.29%
2014$1.26-0.53%
2015$1.25-1.32%
2016$1.22-2.47%
2017$1.17-3.64%
2018$1.170.09%
2019$1.181.00%
2020$1.223.19%
2021$1.5526.63%
2022$1.7512.75%
2023$1.62-7.13%
2024$1.52-6.02%*

* 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 1989 / CPI in 1988 * 1988 USD value = 1989 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Used cars and trucks was 117.969 in the year 1988 and 120.431 in 1989:

120.431 / 117.969 * $1 = $1.02

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $1 in 1988 has the same "purchasing power" as $1.02 in 1989 (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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