Motor vehicle body work inflation, 1977–2026

Prices are 645.27% higher than in 1977, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Motor Vehicle Body Work Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Motor Vehicle Body Work, 1977-2026 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for motor vehicle body work are 645.27% higher in 2026 versus 1977 (a $129.05 difference in value).

Between 1977 and 2026, Motor vehicle body work experienced an average inflation rate of 4.18% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, motor vehicle body work costing $20 in the year 1977 would cost $149.05 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.53% during this same period, inflation for motor vehicle body work was higher.

Price Inflation for Motor vehicle body work since 1977

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (12.62%), 2022 (12.53%), and 1979 (10.99%).

The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.

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Buying power of $20.00 since 1977

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Motor vehicle body work, over time, for $20 beginning in 1977. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1977$20.00-
1978$21.005.01%
1979$23.3110.99%
1980$26.2512.62%
1981$28.779.58%
1982$31.399.10%
1983$33.225.85%
1984$34.584.08%
1985$35.953.98%
1986$37.063.09%
1987$38.754.56%
1988$40.795.25%
1989$43.155.81%
1990$44.924.10%
1991$46.373.23%
1992$47.552.53%
1993$48.892.82%
1994$50.763.83%
1995$52.533.48%
1996$54.894.49%
1997$57.154.12%
1998$59.333.82%
1999$60.231.53%
2000$62.083.06%
2001$64.413.76%
2002$65.982.44%
2003$67.091.67%
2004$68.842.61%
2005$71.093.26%
2006$74.304.53%
2007$76.773.32%
2008$79.253.23%
2009$82.163.68%
2010$84.102.35%
2011$85.932.17%
2012$87.581.93%
2013$89.582.28%
2014$91.892.58%
2015$92.821.02%
2016$95.072.42%
2017$97.342.39%
2018$100.082.81%
2019$103.623.55%
2020$107.333.58%
2021$113.385.63%
2022$127.5812.53%
2023$135.816.44%
2024$137.901.54%
2025$142.483.32%
2026$149.054.61%*

* 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 Motor vehicle body work:

Year19771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
CPI60.50063.53370.51779.41787.02594.942100.492104.592108.758112.117117.225123.375130.542135.892140.283143.833147.892153.558158.900166.033172.867179.467182.208187.783194.850199.600202.942208.242215.033224.767232.233239.732248.548254.398259.930264.941270.976277.958280.793287.580294.463302.730313.465324.686342.961385.940410.813417.150431.009450.890

Adjust motor vehicle body work prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1977* 1977 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Motor vehicle body work was 60.500 in the year 1977 and 450.890 in 2026:

450.890 / 60.500* $20 = $149.05

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1977 has the same "purchasing power" as $149.05 in 2026 (in the CPI category of Motor vehicle body work).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Motor vehicle body work in 1977. In addition to motor vehicle body work, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.