According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new cars and trucks are 14.83% higher in 2022 versus 2018 (a $2,965.22 difference in value).
Between 2018 and 2022: New cars and trucks experienced an average inflation rate of 3.52% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, new cars and trucks costing $20,000 in the year 2018 would cost $22,965.22 in 2022 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.90% during this same period, inflation for new cars and trucks was lower.
In the year 2018: Pricing changed by -0.48%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for new cars and trucks during the 2018-2022 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2018 (2.44%), inflation for new cars and trucks was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for New cars and trucks, over time, for $20,000 beginning in 2018. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $20,000.00 | -0.48% |
| 2019 | $20,075.02 | 0.38% |
| 2020 | $20,179.96 | 0.52% |
| 2021 | $21,365.92 | 5.88% |
| 2022 | $22,965.22 | 7.49%* |
* 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 New cars and trucks:
| Year | 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 | 2022 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 99.538 | 99.131 | 99.023 | 98.615 | 97.138 | 95.631 | 95.054 | 95.569 | 95.362 | 94.427 | 93.012 | 93.983 | 95.651 | 98.359 | 99.970 | 101.051 | 101.383 | 102.005 | 102.125 | 101.858 | 101.372 | 101.752 | 102.284 | 108.295 | 116.401 |