According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new vehicles are 297.94% higher in 2026 versus 1955 (a $59,587.74 difference in value).
Between 1955 and 2026:Vehicles experienced an average inflation rate of 1.96% per year. In other words, vehicles costing $20,000 in the year 1955 would cost $79,587.74 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.57% during this same period, inflation for vehicles was lower.
In the year 1955: Pricing changed by -3.51%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for vehicles during the 1955-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1955 (-0.28%), inflation for vehicles was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Vehicles, over time, for $20,000 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 | $20,000.00 | -3.51% |
| 1956 | $20,564.53 | 2.82% |
| 1957 | $21,634.17 | 5.20% |
| 1958 | $22,332.40 | 3.23% |
| 1959 | $23,283.19 | 4.26% |
| 1960 | $22,982.36 | -1.29% |
| 1961 | $22,978.64 | -0.02% |
| 1962 | $22,889.51 | -0.39% |
| 1963 | $22,752.09 | -0.60% |
| 1964 | $22,688.95 | -0.28% |
| 1965 | $22,191.27 | -2.19% |
| 1966 | $21,790.16 | -1.81% |
| 1967 | $21,994.43 | 0.94% |
| 1968 | $22,592.39 | 2.72% |
| 1969 | $22,960.07 | 1.63% |
| 1970 | $23,680.59 | 3.14% |
| 1971 | $24,635.10 | 4.03% |
| 1972 | $24,419.68 | -0.87% |
| 1973 | $24,427.11 | 0.03% |
| 1974 | $25,842.15 | 5.79% |
| 1975 | $28,070.57 | 8.62% |
| 1976 | $29,845.87 | 6.32% |
| 1977 | $31,431.75 | 5.31% |
| 1978 | $33,827.30 | 7.62% |
| 1979 | $36,512.53 | 7.94% |
| 1980 | $39,428.04 | 7.98% |
| 1981 | $41,834.73 | 6.10% |
| 1982 | $43,442.90 | 3.84% |
| 1983 | $44,512.53 | 2.46% |
| 1984 | $45,741.88 | 2.76% |
| 1985 | $47,264.62 | 3.33% |
| 1986 | $49,292.48 | 4.29% |
| 1987 | $50,978.64 | 3.42% |
| 1988 | $51,929.43 | 1.87% |
| 1989 | $53,106.78 | 2.27% |
| 1990 | $54,105.85 | 1.88% |
| 1991 | $56,148.56 | 3.78% |
| 1992 | $57,585.89 | 2.56% |
| 1993 | $59,160.63 | 2.73% |
| 1994 | $61,318.48 | 3.65% |
| 1995 | $62,818.94 | 2.45% |
| 1996 | $64,029.71 | 1.93% |
| 1997 | $64,289.69 | 0.41% |
| 1998 | $63,929.43 | -0.56% |
| 1999 | $63,669.45 | -0.41% |
| 2000 | $63,621.17 | -0.08% |
| 2001 | $63,335.19 | -0.45% |
| 2002 | $62,395.54 | -1.48% |
| 2003 | $61,437.33 | -1.54% |
| 2004 | $61,084.49 | -0.57% |
| 2005 | $61,463.32 | 0.62% |
| 2006 | $61,318.48 | -0.24% |
| 2007 | $60,726.20 | -0.97% |
| 2008 | $59,807.76 | -1.51% |
| 2009 | $60,444.98 | 1.07% |
| 2010 | $61,506.63 | 1.76% |
| 2011 | $63,234.95 | 2.81% |
| 2012 | $64,281.71 | 1.66% |
| 2013 | $64,973.07 | 1.08% |
| 2014 | $65,192.13 | 0.34% |
| 2015 | $65,575.49 | 0.59% |
| 2016 | $65,674.65 | 0.15% |
| 2017 | $65,511.87 | -0.25% |
| 2018 | $65,197.40 | -0.48% |
| 2019 | $65,441.34 | 0.37% |
| 2020 | $65,782.84 | 0.52% |
| 2021 | $69,633.61 | 5.85% |
| 2022 | $76,871.38 | 10.39% |
| 2023 | $79,732.03 | 3.72% |
| 2024 | $79,280.89 | -0.57% |
| 2025 | $79,554.93 | 0.35% |
| 2026 | $79,587.74 | 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 |