According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new vehicles are 333.35% higher in 2026 versus 1950 (a $66,669.36 difference in value).
Between 1950 and 2026:Vehicles experienced an average inflation rate of 1.95% per year. In other words, vehicles costing $20,000 in the year 1950 would cost $86,669.36 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.48% during this same period, inflation for vehicles was lower.
In the year 1950: Pricing changed by 1.10%, which is below the average yearly change for vehicles during the 1950-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1950 (1.09%), inflation for vehicles was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Vehicles, over time, for $20,000 beginning in 1950. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1950 | $20,000.00 | 1.10% |
| 1951 | $20,752.28 | 3.76% |
| 1952 | $22,637.01 | 9.08% |
| 1953 | $22,932.25 | 1.30% |
| 1954 | $22,572.30 | -1.57% |
| 1955 | $21,779.58 | -3.51% |
| 1956 | $22,394.34 | 2.82% |
| 1957 | $23,559.15 | 5.20% |
| 1958 | $24,319.51 | 3.23% |
| 1959 | $25,354.90 | 4.26% |
| 1960 | $25,027.30 | -1.29% |
| 1961 | $25,023.26 | -0.02% |
| 1962 | $24,926.19 | -0.39% |
| 1963 | $24,776.54 | -0.60% |
| 1964 | $24,707.79 | -0.28% |
| 1965 | $24,165.82 | -2.19% |
| 1966 | $23,729.02 | -1.81% |
| 1967 | $23,951.47 | 0.94% |
| 1968 | $24,602.63 | 2.72% |
| 1969 | $25,003.03 | 1.63% |
| 1970 | $25,787.66 | 3.14% |
| 1971 | $26,827.10 | 4.03% |
| 1972 | $26,592.52 | -0.87% |
| 1973 | $26,600.61 | 0.03% |
| 1974 | $28,141.56 | 5.79% |
| 1975 | $30,568.25 | 8.62% |
| 1976 | $32,501.52 | 6.32% |
| 1977 | $34,228.51 | 5.31% |
| 1978 | $36,837.21 | 7.62% |
| 1979 | $39,761.38 | 7.94% |
| 1980 | $42,936.30 | 7.98% |
| 1981 | $45,557.13 | 6.10% |
| 1982 | $47,308.39 | 3.84% |
| 1983 | $48,473.21 | 2.46% |
| 1984 | $49,811.93 | 2.76% |
| 1985 | $51,470.17 | 3.33% |
| 1986 | $53,678.46 | 4.29% |
| 1987 | $55,514.66 | 3.42% |
| 1988 | $56,550.05 | 1.87% |
| 1989 | $57,832.15 | 2.27% |
| 1990 | $58,920.12 | 1.88% |
| 1991 | $61,144.59 | 3.78% |
| 1992 | $62,709.81 | 2.56% |
| 1993 | $64,424.67 | 2.73% |
| 1994 | $66,774.52 | 3.65% |
| 1995 | $68,408.49 | 2.45% |
| 1996 | $69,727.00 | 1.93% |
| 1997 | $70,010.11 | 0.41% |
| 1998 | $69,617.80 | -0.56% |
| 1999 | $69,334.68 | -0.41% |
| 2000 | $69,282.10 | -0.08% |
| 2001 | $68,970.68 | -0.45% |
| 2002 | $67,947.42 | -1.48% |
| 2003 | $66,903.94 | -1.54% |
| 2004 | $66,519.72 | -0.57% |
| 2005 | $66,932.25 | 0.62% |
| 2006 | $66,774.52 | -0.24% |
| 2007 | $66,129.54 | -0.97% |
| 2008 | $65,129.38 | -1.51% |
| 2009 | $65,823.30 | 1.07% |
| 2010 | $66,979.41 | 1.76% |
| 2011 | $68,861.52 | 2.81% |
| 2012 | $70,001.42 | 1.66% |
| 2013 | $70,754.30 | 1.08% |
| 2014 | $70,992.84 | 0.34% |
| 2015 | $71,410.31 | 0.59% |
| 2016 | $71,518.30 | 0.15% |
| 2017 | $71,341.03 | -0.25% |
| 2018 | $70,998.58 | -0.48% |
| 2019 | $71,264.23 | 0.37% |
| 2020 | $71,636.12 | 0.52% |
| 2021 | $75,829.52 | 5.85% |
| 2022 | $83,711.30 | 10.39% |
| 2023 | $86,826.49 | 3.72% |
| 2024 | $86,335.21 | -0.57% |
| 2025 | $86,633.62 | 0.35% |
| 2026 | $86,669.36 | 0.04%* |
* 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 vehicles:
| 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 | 34.150 | 36.967 | 40.758 | 41.208 | 42.758 | 46.642 | 47.250 | 46.508 | 44.875 | 46.142 | 48.542 | 50.108 | 52.242 | 51.567 | 51.558 | 51.358 | 51.050 | 50.908 | 49.792 | 48.892 | 49.350 | 50.692 | 51.517 | 53.133 | 55.275 | 54.792 | 54.808 | 57.983 | 62.983 | 66.967 | 70.525 | 75.900 | 81.925 | 88.467 | 93.867 | 97.475 | 99.875 | 102.633 | 106.050 | 110.600 | 114.383 | 116.517 | 119.158 | 121.400 | 125.983 | 129.208 | 132.742 | 137.583 | 140.950 | 143.667 | 144.250 | 143.442 | 142.858 | 142.750 | 142.108 | 140.000 | 137.850 | 137.058 | 137.908 | 137.583 | 136.254 | 134.194 | 135.623 | 138.006 | 141.883 | 144.232 | 145.783 | 146.275 | 147.135 | 147.357 | 146.992 | 146.287 | 146.834 | 147.600 | 156.240 | 172.480 | 178.899 | 177.886 | 178.501 | 178.575 |