According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new cars are 85.20% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $12,780.41 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2026:Cars experienced an average inflation rate of 1.38% per year. In other words, cars costing $15,000 in the year 1981 would cost $27,780.41 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.86% during this same period, inflation for cars was lower.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 6.10%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for cars during the 1981-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation for cars was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Cars, over time, for $15,000 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $15,000.00 | 6.10% |
| 1982 | $15,575.95 | 3.84% |
| 1983 | $15,978.58 | 2.58% |
| 1984 | $16,438.54 | 2.88% |
| 1985 | $16,965.16 | 3.20% |
| 1986 | $17,697.09 | 4.31% |
| 1987 | $18,330.37 | 3.58% |
| 1988 | $18,694.34 | 1.99% |
| 1989 | $19,076.97 | 2.05% |
| 1990 | $19,352.95 | 1.45% |
| 1991 | $20,050.22 | 3.60% |
| 1992 | $20,535.51 | 2.42% |
| 1993 | $21,036.80 | 2.44% |
| 1994 | $21,755.40 | 3.42% |
| 1995 | $22,240.69 | 2.23% |
| 1996 | $22,627.32 | 1.74% |
| 1997 | $22,665.99 | 0.17% |
| 1998 | $22,510.00 | -0.69% |
| 1999 | $22,326.02 | -0.82% |
| 2000 | $22,326.02 | 0.00% ** |
| 2001 | $22,226.02 | -0.45% |
| 2002 | $21,963.38 | -1.18% |
| 2003 | $21,547.42 | -1.89% |
| 2004 | $21,428.76 | -0.55% |
| 2005 | $21,634.08 | 0.96% |
| 2006 | $21,826.06 | 0.89% |
| 2007 | $21,736.47 | -0.41% |
| 2008 | $21,662.18 | -0.34% |
| 2009 | $21,867.58 | 0.95% |
| 2010 | $22,093.13 | 1.03% |
| 2011 | $22,754.14 | 2.99% |
| 2012 | $23,066.40 | 1.37% |
| 2013 | $23,185.69 | 0.52% |
| 2014 | $23,112.99 | -0.31% |
| 2015 | $23,101.23 | -0.05% |
| 2016 | $22,988.40 | -0.49% |
| 2017 | $22,823.42 | -0.72% |
| 2018 | $22,712.85 | -0.48% |
| 2019 | $22,846.00 | 0.59% |
| 2020 | $23,030.78 | 0.81% |
| 2021 | $24,311.04 | 5.56% |
| 2022 | $27,002.95 | 11.07% |
| 2023 | $27,936.37 | 3.46% |
| 2024 | $27,605.97 | -1.18% |
| 2025 | $27,760.08 | 0.56% |
| 2026 | $27,780.41 | 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 |