According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new cars are 287.38% higher in 2026 versus 1955 (a $43,106.97 difference in value).
Between 1955 and 2026:Cars experienced an average inflation rate of 1.93% per year. In other words, cars costing $15,000 in the year 1955 would cost $58,106.97 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.57% during this same period, inflation for cars was lower.
In the year 1955: Pricing changed by -3.50%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for cars during the 1955-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1955 (-0.28%), inflation for cars was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Cars, over time, for $15,000 beginning in 1955. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1955 | $15,000.00 | -3.50% |
| 1956 | $15,412.72 | 2.75% |
| 1957 | $16,218.63 | 5.23% |
| 1958 | $16,742.89 | 3.23% |
| 1959 | $17,465.14 | 4.31% |
| 1960 | $17,236.48 | -1.31% |
| 1961 | $17,233.69 | -0.02% |
| 1962 | $17,169.55 | -0.37% |
| 1963 | $17,060.79 | -0.63% |
| 1964 | $17,024.54 | -0.21% |
| 1965 | $16,639.71 | -2.26% |
| 1966 | $16,332.96 | -1.84% |
| 1967 | $16,483.55 | 0.92% |
| 1968 | $16,949.25 | 2.83% |
| 1969 | $17,222.53 | 1.61% |
| 1970 | $17,746.79 | 3.04% |
| 1971 | $18,474.62 | 4.10% |
| 1972 | $18,315.67 | -0.86% |
| 1973 | $18,324.04 | 0.05% |
| 1974 | $19,386.50 | 5.80% |
| 1975 | $21,048.52 | 8.57% |
| 1976 | $22,381.48 | 6.33% |
| 1977 | $23,566.65 | 5.30% |
| 1978 | $25,368.10 | 7.64% |
| 1979 | $27,381.48 | 7.94% |
| 1980 | $29,570.55 | 7.99% |
| 1981 | $31,374.79 | 6.10% |
| 1982 | $32,579.48 | 3.84% |
| 1983 | $33,421.64 | 2.58% |
| 1984 | $34,383.71 | 2.88% |
| 1985 | $35,485.22 | 3.20% |
| 1986 | $37,016.17 | 4.31% |
| 1987 | $38,340.77 | 3.58% |
| 1988 | $39,102.06 | 1.99% |
| 1989 | $39,902.40 | 2.05% |
| 1990 | $40,479.64 | 1.45% |
| 1991 | $41,938.09 | 3.60% |
| 1992 | $42,953.15 | 2.42% |
| 1993 | $44,001.67 | 2.44% |
| 1994 | $45,504.74 | 3.42% |
| 1995 | $46,519.80 | 2.23% |
| 1996 | $47,328.50 | 1.74% |
| 1997 | $47,409.37 | 0.17% |
| 1998 | $47,083.10 | -0.69% |
| 1999 | $46,698.27 | -0.82% |
| 2000 | $46,698.27 | 0.00% ** |
| 2001 | $46,489.12 | -0.45% |
| 2002 | $45,939.77 | -1.18% |
| 2003 | $45,069.72 | -1.89% |
| 2004 | $44,821.53 | -0.55% |
| 2005 | $45,250.98 | 0.96% |
| 2006 | $45,652.54 | 0.89% |
| 2007 | $45,465.14 | -0.41% |
| 2008 | $45,309.76 | -0.34% |
| 2009 | $45,739.38 | 0.95% |
| 2010 | $46,211.15 | 1.03% |
| 2011 | $47,593.75 | 2.99% |
| 2012 | $48,246.90 | 1.37% |
| 2013 | $48,496.40 | 0.52% |
| 2014 | $48,344.34 | -0.31% |
| 2015 | $48,319.74 | -0.05% |
| 2016 | $48,083.74 | -0.49% |
| 2017 | $47,738.68 | -0.72% |
| 2018 | $47,507.39 | -0.48% |
| 2019 | $47,785.89 | 0.59% |
| 2020 | $48,172.39 | 0.81% |
| 2021 | $50,850.25 | 5.56% |
| 2022 | $56,480.79 | 11.07% |
| 2023 | $58,433.18 | 3.46% |
| 2024 | $57,742.11 | -1.18% |
| 2025 | $58,064.44 | 0.56% |
| 2026 | $58,106.97 | 0.07%* |
* 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:
| Year | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 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 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 34.080 | 36.917 | 40.658 | 41.108 | 42.708 | 46.575 | 47.192 | 46.450 | 44.825 | 46.058 | 48.467 | 50.033 | 52.192 | 51.508 | 51.500 | 51.308 | 50.983 | 50.875 | 49.725 | 48.808 | 49.258 | 50.650 | 51.467 | 53.033 | 55.208 | 54.733 | 54.758 | 57.933 | 62.900 | 66.883 | 70.425 | 75.808 | 81.825 | 88.367 | 93.758 | 97.358 | 99.875 | 102.750 | 106.042 | 110.617 | 114.575 | 116.850 | 119.242 | 120.967 | 125.325 | 128.358 | 131.492 | 135.983 | 139.017 | 141.433 | 141.675 | 140.700 | 139.550 | 139.550 | 138.925 | 137.283 | 134.683 | 133.942 | 135.225 | 136.425 | 135.865 | 135.401 | 136.684 | 138.094 | 142.226 | 144.178 | 144.923 | 144.469 | 144.395 | 143.690 | 142.659 | 141.968 | 142.800 | 143.955 | 151.958 | 168.783 | 174.618 | 172.553 | 173.516 | 173.643 |