Vehicles priced at $1 in 1990 $1.21 in 2017

Vehicles Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Vehicles, 1990-2017 ($1)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for new vehicles were 21.08% higher in 2017 versus 1990 (a $0.21 difference in value).

Between 1990 and 2017: Vehicles experienced an average inflation rate of 0.71% per year. In other words, vehicles costing $1 in the year 1990 would cost $1.21 in 2017 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.36% during this same period, inflation for vehicles was lower.

In the year 1990: Pricing changed by 1.88%, which is above the average yearly change for vehicles during the 1990-2017 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1990 (5.40%), inflation for vehicles was much lower.

Price Inflation for New vehicles since 1935

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1947 (50%), 2022 (10.39%), and 1949 (9.10%).

View price changes for other categories
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Buying power of $1.00 since 1990

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Vehicles, over time, for $1 beginning in 1990. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1990$1.001.88%
1991$1.043.78%
1992$1.062.56%
1993$1.092.73%
1994$1.133.65%
1995$1.162.45%
1996$1.181.93%
1997$1.190.41%
1998$1.18-0.57%
1999$1.18-0.40%
2000$1.18-0.08%
2001$1.17-0.45%
2002$1.15-1.48%
2003$1.14-1.53%
2004$1.13-0.57%
2005$1.140.62%
2006$1.13-0.23%
2007$1.12-0.97%
2008$1.11-1.51%
2009$1.121.07%
2010$1.141.76%
2011$1.172.81%
2012$1.191.66%
2013$1.201.08%
2014$1.200.34%
2015$1.210.59%
2016$1.210.15%
2017$1.21-0.25%
2018$1.20-0.48%
2019$1.210.37%
2020$1.220.52%
2021$1.295.85%
2022$1.4210.39%
2023$1.473.72%
2024$1.47-0.17%*

* 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:

Year193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI20.30020.40020.80021.80021.30021.40023.00023.00023.00023.00023.00023.00034.50037.58041.00041.22043.36046.94047.25446.50844.87746.13848.54650.10852.24651.56951.56251.36251.05450.90849.79248.89249.34650.69251.51553.13155.27754.79254.80857.98562.98566.96970.52375.90081.92388.46993.86997.47799.877102.631106.054110.600114.385116.515119.162121.400125.985129.208132.738137.585140.954143.669144.254143.438142.862142.754142.108140.000137.854137.062137.908137.585136.254134.194135.623138.005141.883144.232145.783146.275147.135147.358146.992146.287146.834147.600156.240172.480178.899178.594

Adjust vehicles prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2017 / CPI in 1990 * 1990 USD value = 2017 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for New vehicles was 121.400 in the year 1990 and 146.992 in 2017:

146.992 / 121.400 * $1 = $1.21

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $1 in 1990 has the same "purchasing power" as $1.21 in 2017 (in the CPI category of New vehicles).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for New vehicles in 1935. In addition to vehicles, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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