According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new cars are 259.13% higher in 2026 versus 1966 (a $38,869.39 difference in value).
Between 1966 and 2026, New cars experienced an average inflation rate of 2.15% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, new cars costing $15,000 in the year 1966 would cost $53,869.39 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.95% during this same period, inflation for new cars was lower.
In the year 1966: Pricing changed by -1.84%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for new cars during the 1966-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1966 (3.02%), inflation for new cars was much lower.
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.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for New cars, over time, for $15,000 beginning in 1966. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1966 | $15,000.00 | -1.84% |
| 1967 | $15,138.30 | 0.92% |
| 1968 | $15,565.99 | 2.83% |
| 1969 | $15,816.97 | 1.61% |
| 1970 | $16,298.45 | 3.04% |
| 1971 | $16,966.88 | 4.10% |
| 1972 | $16,820.90 | -0.86% |
| 1973 | $16,828.58 | 0.05% |
| 1974 | $17,804.34 | 5.80% |
| 1975 | $19,330.72 | 8.57% |
| 1976 | $20,554.89 | 6.33% |
| 1977 | $21,643.33 | 5.30% |
| 1978 | $23,297.76 | 7.64% |
| 1979 | $25,146.83 | 7.94% |
| 1980 | $27,157.25 | 7.99% |
| 1981 | $28,814.24 | 6.10% |
| 1982 | $29,920.61 | 3.84% |
| 1983 | $30,694.04 | 2.58% |
| 1984 | $31,577.60 | 2.88% |
| 1985 | $32,589.21 | 3.20% |
| 1986 | $33,995.22 | 4.31% |
| 1987 | $35,211.71 | 3.58% |
| 1988 | $35,910.88 | 1.99% |
| 1989 | $36,645.89 | 2.05% |
| 1990 | $37,176.03 | 1.45% |
| 1991 | $38,515.45 | 3.60% |
| 1992 | $39,447.67 | 2.42% |
| 1993 | $40,410.62 | 2.44% |
| 1994 | $41,791.02 | 3.42% |
| 1995 | $42,723.24 | 2.23% |
| 1996 | $43,465.94 | 1.74% |
| 1997 | $43,540.21 | 0.17% |
| 1998 | $43,240.57 | -0.69% |
| 1999 | $42,887.14 | -0.82% |
| 2000 | $42,887.14 | 0.00% ** |
| 2001 | $42,695.07 | -0.45% |
| 2002 | $42,190.54 | -1.18% |
| 2003 | $41,391.50 | -1.89% |
| 2004 | $41,163.56 | -0.55% |
| 2005 | $41,557.96 | 0.96% |
| 2006 | $41,926.75 | 0.89% |
| 2007 | $41,754.65 | -0.41% |
| 2008 | $41,611.95 | -0.34% |
| 2009 | $42,006.51 | 0.95% |
| 2010 | $42,439.78 | 1.03% |
| 2011 | $43,709.54 | 2.99% |
| 2012 | $44,309.39 | 1.37% |
| 2013 | $44,538.53 | 0.52% |
| 2014 | $44,398.87 | -0.31% |
| 2015 | $44,376.28 | -0.05% |
| 2016 | $44,159.54 | -0.49% |
| 2017 | $43,842.64 | -0.72% |
| 2018 | $43,630.23 | -0.48% |
| 2019 | $43,886.00 | 0.59% |
| 2020 | $44,240.96 | 0.81% |
| 2021 | $46,700.27 | 5.56% |
| 2022 | $51,871.29 | 11.07% |
| 2023 | $53,664.35 | 3.46% |
| 2024 | $53,029.67 | -1.18% |
| 2025 | $53,312.18 | 0.53% |
| 2026 | $53,869.39 | 1.05%* |
* 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 | 173.472 | 175.285 |