According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new vehicles are 225.82% higher in 2026 versus 1973 (a $45,163.45 difference in value).
Between 1973 and 2026:Vehicles experienced an average inflation rate of 2.25% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, vehicles costing $20,000 in the year 1973 would cost $65,163.45 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.82% during this same period, inflation for vehicles was lower.
In the year 1973: Pricing changed by 0.03%, which is below the average yearly change for vehicles during the 1973-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1973 (6.18%), inflation for vehicles was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Vehicles, over time, for $20,000 beginning in 1973. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1973 | $20,000.00 | 0.03% |
| 1974 | $21,158.58 | 5.79% |
| 1975 | $22,983.12 | 8.62% |
| 1976 | $24,436.67 | 6.32% |
| 1977 | $25,735.14 | 5.31% |
| 1978 | $27,696.52 | 7.62% |
| 1979 | $29,895.09 | 7.94% |
| 1980 | $32,282.20 | 7.98% |
| 1981 | $34,252.70 | 6.10% |
| 1982 | $35,569.41 | 3.84% |
| 1983 | $36,445.19 | 2.46% |
| 1984 | $37,451.73 | 2.76% |
| 1985 | $38,698.49 | 3.33% |
| 1986 | $40,358.83 | 4.29% |
| 1987 | $41,739.39 | 3.42% |
| 1988 | $42,517.87 | 1.87% |
| 1989 | $43,481.83 | 2.27% |
| 1990 | $44,299.83 | 1.88% |
| 1991 | $45,972.33 | 3.78% |
| 1992 | $47,149.16 | 2.56% |
| 1993 | $48,438.50 | 2.73% |
| 1994 | $50,205.26 | 3.65% |
| 1995 | $51,433.78 | 2.45% |
| 1996 | $52,425.12 | 1.93% |
| 1997 | $52,637.98 | 0.41% |
| 1998 | $52,343.01 | -0.56% |
| 1999 | $52,130.15 | -0.41% |
| 2000 | $52,090.62 | -0.08% |
| 2001 | $51,856.47 | -0.45% |
| 2002 | $51,087.12 | -1.48% |
| 2003 | $50,302.57 | -1.54% |
| 2004 | $50,013.68 | -0.57% |
| 2005 | $50,323.86 | 0.62% |
| 2006 | $50,205.26 | -0.24% |
| 2007 | $49,720.33 | -0.97% |
| 2008 | $48,968.34 | -1.51% |
| 2009 | $49,490.07 | 1.07% |
| 2010 | $50,359.31 | 1.76% |
| 2011 | $51,774.40 | 2.81% |
| 2012 | $52,631.44 | 1.66% |
| 2013 | $53,197.51 | 1.08% |
| 2014 | $53,376.86 | 0.34% |
| 2015 | $53,690.74 | 0.59% |
| 2016 | $53,771.93 | 0.15% |
| 2017 | $53,638.65 | -0.25% |
| 2018 | $53,381.18 | -0.48% |
| 2019 | $53,580.90 | 0.37% |
| 2020 | $53,860.51 | 0.52% |
| 2021 | $57,013.38 | 5.85% |
| 2022 | $62,939.39 | 10.39% |
| 2023 | $65,281.59 | 3.72% |
| 2024 | $64,912.21 | -0.57% |
| 2025 | $65,136.58 | 0.35% |
| 2026 | $65,163.45 | 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 |