Used cars and trucks priced at $20 in 1997 $18.30 in 2017

Used Cars And Trucks Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Used Cars And Trucks, 1997-2017 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for used cars and trucks were 8.51% lower in 2017 versus 1997 (a $1.70 difference in value).

Between 1997 and 2017: Used cars and trucks experienced an average inflation rate of -0.44% per year. In other words, used cars and trucks costing $20 in the year 1997 would cost $18.30 in 2017 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.14% during this same period, inflation for used cars and trucks was lower.

In the year 1997: Pricing changed by -3.77%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for used cars and trucks during the 1997-2017 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1997 (2.33%), inflation for used cars and trucks was much lower.

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 $20.00 since 1997

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Used cars and trucks, over time, for $20 beginning in 1997. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1997$20.00-3.77%
1998$19.93-0.34%
1999$20.120.94%
2000$20.612.45%
2001$21.001.89%
2002$20.11-4.24%
2003$18.91-5.96%
2004$17.64-6.71%
2005$18.454.59%
2006$18.530.40%
2007$17.97-3.03%
2008$17.73-1.32%
2009$16.80-5.21%
2010$18.9412.72%
2011$19.724.11%
2012$19.900.89%
2013$19.84-0.29%
2014$19.73-0.53%
2015$19.47-1.32%
2016$18.99-2.47%
2017$18.30-3.64%
2018$18.310.09%
2019$18.501.00%
2020$19.093.19%
2021$24.1726.63%
2022$27.2512.75%
2023$25.31-7.13%
2024$23.78-6.02%*

* 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 2017 / CPI in 1997 * 1997 USD value = 2017 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Used cars and trucks was 151.123 in the year 1997 and 138.259 in 2017:

138.259 / 151.123 * $20 = $18.30

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1997 has the same "purchasing power" as $18.30 in 2017 (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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