According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new vehicles are 135.28% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $27,055.34 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2026:Vehicles experienced an average inflation rate of 1.80% per year. In other words, vehicles costing $20,000 in the year 1978 would cost $47,055.34 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.40% during this same period, inflation for vehicles was lower.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 7.62%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for vehicles during the 1978-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for vehicles was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Vehicles, over time, for $20,000 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20,000.00 | 7.62% |
| 1979 | $21,587.62 | 7.94% |
| 1980 | $23,311.37 | 7.98% |
| 1981 | $24,734.30 | 6.10% |
| 1982 | $25,685.11 | 3.84% |
| 1983 | $26,317.52 | 2.46% |
| 1984 | $27,044.36 | 2.76% |
| 1985 | $27,944.66 | 3.33% |
| 1986 | $29,143.61 | 4.29% |
| 1987 | $30,140.54 | 3.42% |
| 1988 | $30,702.68 | 1.87% |
| 1989 | $31,398.77 | 2.27% |
| 1990 | $31,989.46 | 1.88% |
| 1991 | $33,197.19 | 3.78% |
| 1992 | $34,046.99 | 2.56% |
| 1993 | $34,978.04 | 2.73% |
| 1994 | $36,253.84 | 3.65% |
| 1995 | $37,140.97 | 2.45% |
| 1996 | $37,856.83 | 1.93% |
| 1997 | $38,010.54 | 0.41% |
| 1998 | $37,797.54 | -0.56% |
| 1999 | $37,643.83 | -0.41% |
| 2000 | $37,615.28 | -0.08% |
| 2001 | $37,446.20 | -0.45% |
| 2002 | $36,890.65 | -1.48% |
| 2003 | $36,324.11 | -1.54% |
| 2004 | $36,115.50 | -0.57% |
| 2005 | $36,339.48 | 0.62% |
| 2006 | $36,253.84 | -0.24% |
| 2007 | $35,903.67 | -0.97% |
| 2008 | $35,360.65 | -1.51% |
| 2009 | $35,737.40 | 1.07% |
| 2010 | $36,365.09 | 1.76% |
| 2011 | $37,386.93 | 2.81% |
| 2012 | $38,005.82 | 1.66% |
| 2013 | $38,414.58 | 1.08% |
| 2014 | $38,544.09 | 0.34% |
| 2015 | $38,770.75 | 0.59% |
| 2016 | $38,829.38 | 0.15% |
| 2017 | $38,733.14 | -0.25% |
| 2018 | $38,547.21 | -0.48% |
| 2019 | $38,691.44 | 0.37% |
| 2020 | $38,893.35 | 0.52% |
| 2021 | $41,170.07 | 5.85% |
| 2022 | $45,449.32 | 10.39% |
| 2023 | $47,140.65 | 3.72% |
| 2024 | $46,873.91 | -0.57% |
| 2025 | $47,035.93 | 0.35% |
| 2026 | $47,055.34 | 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 |