New and used vehicles price inflation, 1998→2021

New And Used Vehicles Inflation Calculator

Prices for New And Used Vehicles, 1998-2021 ($20,000)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new and used motor vehicles are 8.05% higher in 2021 versus 1998 (a $1,609.39 difference in value).

Between 1998 and 2021: New and used vehicles experienced an average inflation rate of 0.34% per year. In other words, new and used vehicles costing $20,000 in the year 1998 would cost $21,609.39 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.21% during this same period, inflation for new and used vehicles was lower.

In the year 1998: Pricing changed by -0.43%, which is below the average yearly change for new and used vehicles during the 1998-2021 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1998 (1.55%), inflation for new and used vehicles was lower.

Price Inflation for New and used motor vehicles since 1993

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2021 (7.42%), 1994 (4.07%), and 1995 (4.05%).

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Buying power of $20,000.00 since 1998

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for New and used vehicles, over time, for $20,000 beginning in 1998. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1998	$20,000.00	-0.43%
1999	$20,006.66	0.03%
2000	$20,146.52	0.70%
2001	$20,239.76	0.46%
2002	$19,826.84	-2.04%
2003	$19,274.06	-2.79%
2004	$18,821.18	-2.35%
2005	$19,100.90	1.49%
2006	$19,100.90	0.00%
2007	$18,841.76	-1.36%
2008	$18,639.56	-1.07%
2009	$18,678.59	0.21%
2010	$19,410.39	3.92%
2011	$19,934.00	2.70%
2012	$20,100.63	0.84%
2013	$20,165.97	0.33%
2014	$20,138.99	-0.13%
2015	$20,130.60	-0.04%
2016	$20,021.78	-0.54%
2017	$19,755.84	-1.33%
2018	$19,806.19	0.25%
2019	$19,870.80	0.33%
2020	$20,115.82	1.23%
2021	$21,609.39	7.42%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.

Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for New and used motor vehicles:

Year	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
CPI	91.800	95.533	99.400	101.000	100.533	100.100	100.133	100.833	101.300	99.233	96.467	94.200	95.600	95.600	94.303	93.291	93.486	97.149	99.770	100.604	100.931	100.796	100.754	100.209	98.878	99.130	99.453	100.680	108.155

Adjust new and used vehicles prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2021 / CPI in 1998 * 1998 USD value = 2021 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for New and used motor vehicles was 100.100 in the year 1998 and 108.155 in 2021:

108.155 / 100.100 * $20,000 = $21,609.39

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20,000 in 1998 has the same "purchasing power" as $21,609.39 in 2021 (in the CPI category of New and used motor vehicles).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for New and used motor vehicles in 1993. In addition to new and used vehicles, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.