According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new cars are 214.52% higher in 2026 versus 1971 (a $32,178.48 difference in value).
Between 1971 and 2026:Cars experienced an average inflation rate of 2.11% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, cars costing $15,000 in the year 1971 would cost $47,178.48 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.85% during this same period, inflation for cars was lower.
In the year 1971: Pricing changed by 4.10%, which is above the average yearly change for cars during the 1971-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1971 (4.29%), inflation for cars was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Cars, over time, for $15,000 beginning in 1971. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1971 | $15,000.00 | 4.10% |
| 1972 | $14,870.94 | -0.86% |
| 1973 | $14,877.74 | 0.05% |
| 1974 | $15,740.38 | 5.80% |
| 1975 | $17,089.81 | 8.57% |
| 1976 | $18,172.08 | 6.33% |
| 1977 | $19,134.34 | 5.30% |
| 1978 | $20,596.98 | 7.64% |
| 1979 | $22,231.70 | 7.94% |
| 1980 | $24,009.06 | 7.99% |
| 1981 | $25,473.96 | 6.10% |
| 1982 | $26,452.08 | 3.84% |
| 1983 | $27,135.85 | 2.58% |
| 1984 | $27,916.98 | 2.88% |
| 1985 | $28,811.32 | 3.20% |
| 1986 | $30,054.34 | 4.31% |
| 1987 | $31,129.81 | 3.58% |
| 1988 | $31,747.92 | 1.99% |
| 1989 | $32,397.74 | 2.05% |
| 1990 | $32,866.42 | 1.45% |
| 1991 | $34,050.57 | 3.60% |
| 1992 | $34,874.72 | 2.42% |
| 1993 | $35,726.04 | 2.44% |
| 1994 | $36,946.42 | 3.42% |
| 1995 | $37,770.57 | 2.23% |
| 1996 | $38,427.17 | 1.74% |
| 1997 | $38,492.83 | 0.17% |
| 1998 | $38,227.92 | -0.69% |
| 1999 | $37,915.47 | -0.82% |
| 2000 | $37,915.47 | 0.00% ** |
| 2001 | $37,745.66 | -0.45% |
| 2002 | $37,299.62 | -1.18% |
| 2003 | $36,593.21 | -1.89% |
| 2004 | $36,391.70 | -0.55% |
| 2005 | $36,740.38 | 0.96% |
| 2006 | $37,066.42 | 0.89% |
| 2007 | $36,914.26 | -0.41% |
| 2008 | $36,788.11 | -0.34% |
| 2009 | $37,136.92 | 0.95% |
| 2010 | $37,519.97 | 1.03% |
| 2011 | $38,642.54 | 2.99% |
| 2012 | $39,172.85 | 1.37% |
| 2013 | $39,375.42 | 0.52% |
| 2014 | $39,251.95 | -0.31% |
| 2015 | $39,231.98 | -0.05% |
| 2016 | $39,040.37 | -0.49% |
| 2017 | $38,760.20 | -0.72% |
| 2018 | $38,572.42 | -0.48% |
| 2019 | $38,798.54 | 0.59% |
| 2020 | $39,112.35 | 0.81% |
| 2021 | $41,286.57 | 5.56% |
| 2022 | $45,858.14 | 11.07% |
| 2023 | $47,443.34 | 3.46% |
| 2024 | $46,882.23 | -1.18% |
| 2025 | $47,143.95 | 0.56% |
| 2026 | $47,178.48 | 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 |