According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for private transportation are 1,658.69% higher in 2026 versus 1938 (a $331.74 difference in value).
Between 1938 and 2026:Private transportation experienced an average inflation rate of 3.31% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, private transportation costing $20 in the year 1938 would cost $351.74 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.63% during this same period, inflation for private transportation was lower.
In the year 1938: Pricing changed by 1.47%, which is below the average yearly change for private transportation during the 1938-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1938 (-2.03%), inflation for private transportation was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Private transportation, over time, for $20 beginning in 1938. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1938 | $20.00 | 1.47% |
| 1939 | $19.22 | -3.92% |
| 1940 | $19.00 | -1.12% |
| 1941 | $19.77 | 4.07% |
| 1942 | $22.67 | 14.66% |
| 1943 | $22.42 | -1.14% |
| 1944 | $22.39 | -0.10% |
| 1945 | $22.33 | -0.29% |
| 1946 | $23.31 | 4.38% |
| 1947 | $26.82 | 15.06% |
| 1948 | $29.68 | 10.69% |
| 1949 | $31.49 | 6.08% |
| 1950 | $31.55 | 0.20% |
| 1951 | $32.96 | 4.46% |
| 1952 | $35.19 | 6.78% |
| 1953 | $35.81 | 1.77% |
| 1954 | $34.97 | -2.37% |
| 1955 | $34.36 | -1.72% |
| 1956 | $34.85 | 1.41% |
| 1957 | $36.88 | 5.82% |
| 1958 | $38.01 | 3.09% |
| 1959 | $39.66 | 4.32% |
| 1960 | $39.43 | -0.57% |
| 1961 | $39.75 | 0.82% |
| 1962 | $40.50 | 1.89% |
| 1963 | $40.67 | 0.40% |
| 1964 | $41.22 | 1.37% |
| 1965 | $41.90 | 1.64% |
| 1966 | $42.40 | 1.20% |
| 1967 | $43.54 | 2.68% |
| 1968 | $44.83 | 2.96% |
| 1969 | $46.36 | 3.40% |
| 1970 | $48.34 | 4.28% |
| 1971 | $50.75 | 4.97% |
| 1972 | $51.12 | 0.74% |
| 1973 | $52.87 | 3.42% |
| 1974 | $59.43 | 12.41% |
| 1975 | $65.17 | 9.66% |
| 1976 | $71.64 | 9.92% |
| 1977 | $76.84 | 7.27% |
| 1978 | $80.49 | 4.75% |
| 1979 | $92.42 | 14.82% |
| 1980 | $108.44 | 17.33% |
| 1981 | $120.76 | 11.37% |
| 1982 | $125.15 | 3.64% |
| 1983 | $127.91 | 2.20% |
| 1984 | $133.44 | 4.32% |
| 1985 | $136.75 | 2.48% |
| 1986 | $130.37 | -4.66% |
| 1987 | $134.29 | 3.01% |
| 1988 | $138.56 | 3.18% |
| 1989 | $145.46 | 4.98% |
| 1990 | $153.06 | 5.23% |
| 1991 | $157.05 | 2.60% |
| 1992 | $160.54 | 2.22% |
| 1993 | $164.27 | 2.33% |
| 1994 | $169.26 | 3.04% |
| 1995 | $175.54 | 3.71% |
| 1996 | $180.39 | 2.76% |
| 1997 | $181.60 | 0.67% |
| 1998 | $177.65 | -2.18% |
| 1999 | $180.97 | 1.87% |
| 2000 | $192.11 | 6.16% |
| 2001 | $193.29 | 0.61% |
| 2002 | $191.65 | -0.85% |
| 2003 | $197.85 | 3.24% |
| 2004 | $205.29 | 3.76% |
| 2005 | $219.25 | 6.80% |
| 2006 | $227.95 | 3.97% |
| 2007 | $232.89 | 2.16% |
| 2008 | $246.10 | 5.68% |
| 2009 | $225.14 | -8.52% |
| 2010 | $243.15 | 8.00% |
| 2011 | $267.49 | 10.01% |
| 2012 | $274.08 | 2.46% |
| 2013 | $273.62 | -0.17% |
| 2014 | $271.81 | -0.66% |
| 2015 | $249.53 | -8.20% |
| 2016 | $244.12 | -2.17% |
| 2017 | $253.31 | 3.76% |
| 2018 | $265.95 | 4.99% |
| 2019 | $265.09 | -0.32% |
| 2020 | $255.92 | -3.46% |
| 2021 | $295.91 | 15.63% |
| 2022 | $341.71 | 15.47% |
| 2023 | $343.15 | 0.42% |
| 2024 | $348.22 | 1.48% |
| 2025 | $351.59 | 0.97% |
| 2026 | $351.74 | 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 Private transportation:
| Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 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 | 14.630 | 14.850 | 15.300 | 15.525 | 14.917 | 14.750 | 15.350 | 17.600 | 17.400 | 17.383 | 17.333 | 18.092 | 20.817 | 23.042 | 24.442 | 24.492 | 25.583 | 27.317 | 27.800 | 27.142 | 26.675 | 27.050 | 28.625 | 29.508 | 30.783 | 30.608 | 30.858 | 31.442 | 31.567 | 32.000 | 32.525 | 32.917 | 33.800 | 34.800 | 35.983 | 37.525 | 39.392 | 39.683 | 41.042 | 46.133 | 50.592 | 55.608 | 59.650 | 62.483 | 71.742 | 84.175 | 93.742 | 97.150 | 99.292 | 103.583 | 106.150 | 101.200 | 104.242 | 107.558 | 112.917 | 118.817 | 121.908 | 124.617 | 127.517 | 131.392 | 136.267 | 140.025 | 140.967 | 137.900 | 140.475 | 149.125 | 150.042 | 148.767 | 153.583 | 159.358 | 170.192 | 176.950 | 180.778 | 191.039 | 174.762 | 188.747 | 207.641 | 212.752 | 212.399 | 210.994 | 193.698 | 189.502 | 196.635 | 206.442 | 205.774 | 198.661 | 229.703 | 265.249 | 266.372 | 270.308 | 272.922 | 273.036 |