According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for private transportation are 1,716.23% higher in 2024 versus 1939 (a $343.25 difference in value).
Between 1939 and 2024: Private transportation experienced an average inflation rate of 3.47% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, private transportation costing $20 in the year 1939 would cost $363.25 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.73% during this same period, inflation for private transportation was lower.
In the year 1939: Pricing changed by -3.50%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for private transportation during the 1939-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1939 (-1.31%), inflation for private transportation was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Private transportation, over time, for $20 beginning in 1939. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | $20.00 | -3.50% |
| 1940 | $19.79 | -1.07% |
| 1941 | $20.97 | 5.97% |
| 1942 | $23.81 | 13.57% |
| 1943 | $23.30 | -2.14% |
| 1944 | $23.36 | 0.23% |
| 1945 | $23.22 | -0.57% |
| 1946 | $24.86 | 7.05% |
| 1947 | $27.94 | 12.39% |
| 1948 | $30.92 | 10.68% |
| 1949 | $32.80 | 6.08% |
| 1950 | $32.88 | 0.22% |
| 1951 | $34.34 | 4.46% |
| 1952 | $36.66 | 6.76% |
| 1953 | $37.32 | 1.77% |
| 1954 | $36.43 | -2.38% |
| 1955 | $35.81 | -1.70% |
| 1956 | $36.31 | 1.41% |
| 1957 | $38.42 | 5.80% |
| 1958 | $39.61 | 3.09% |
| 1959 | $41.32 | 4.33% |
| 1960 | $41.08 | -0.57% |
| 1961 | $41.41 | 0.80% |
| 1962 | $42.20 | 1.89% |
| 1963 | $42.37 | 0.42% |
| 1964 | $42.95 | 1.36% |
| 1965 | $43.66 | 1.63% |
| 1966 | $44.18 | 1.21% |
| 1967 | $45.37 | 2.69% |
| 1968 | $46.71 | 2.96% |
| 1969 | $48.30 | 3.40% |
| 1970 | $50.37 | 4.28% |
| 1971 | $52.88 | 4.98% |
| 1972 | $53.27 | 0.74% |
| 1973 | $55.09 | 3.41% |
| 1974 | $61.93 | 12.43% |
| 1975 | $67.91 | 9.65% |
| 1976 | $74.64 | 9.91% |
| 1977 | $80.07 | 7.28% |
| 1978 | $83.87 | 4.75% |
| 1979 | $96.29 | 14.81% |
| 1980 | $112.99 | 17.34% |
| 1981 | $125.83 | 11.37% |
| 1982 | $130.40 | 3.63% |
| 1983 | $133.28 | 2.21% |
| 1984 | $139.04 | 4.32% |
| 1985 | $142.49 | 2.48% |
| 1986 | $135.84 | -4.67% |
| 1987 | $139.92 | 3.00% |
| 1988 | $144.38 | 3.19% |
| 1989 | $151.56 | 4.98% |
| 1990 | $159.48 | 5.23% |
| 1991 | $163.63 | 2.60% |
| 1992 | $167.27 | 2.22% |
| 1993 | $171.16 | 2.33% |
| 1994 | $176.37 | 3.04% |
| 1995 | $182.91 | 3.71% |
| 1996 | $187.95 | 2.75% |
| 1997 | $189.22 | 0.68% |
| 1998 | $185.10 | -2.18% |
| 1999 | $188.56 | 1.87% |
| 2000 | $200.17 | 6.15% |
| 2001 | $201.39 | 0.61% |
| 2002 | $199.69 | -0.85% |
| 2003 | $206.15 | 3.24% |
| 2004 | $213.91 | 3.76% |
| 2005 | $228.45 | 6.80% |
| 2006 | $237.52 | 3.97% |
| 2007 | $242.66 | 2.16% |
| 2008 | $256.43 | 5.68% |
| 2009 | $234.58 | -8.52% |
| 2010 | $253.35 | 8.00% |
| 2011 | $278.71 | 10.01% |
| 2012 | $285.57 | 2.46% |
| 2013 | $285.10 | -0.17% |
| 2014 | $283.21 | -0.66% |
| 2015 | $260.00 | -8.20% |
| 2016 | $254.36 | -2.17% |
| 2017 | $263.94 | 3.76% |
| 2018 | $277.10 | 4.99% |
| 2019 | $276.21 | -0.32% |
| 2020 | $266.66 | -3.46% |
| 2021 | $308.33 | 15.63% |
| 2022 | $356.04 | 15.47% |
| 2023 | $357.55 | 0.42% |
| 2024 | $363.25 | 1.59%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 14.625 | 14.883 | 15.400 | 15.440 | 14.900 | 14.740 | 15.620 | 17.740 | 17.360 | 17.400 | 17.300 | 18.520 | 20.815 | 23.038 | 24.438 | 24.492 | 25.585 | 27.315 | 27.800 | 27.138 | 26.677 | 27.054 | 28.623 | 29.508 | 30.785 | 30.608 | 30.854 | 31.438 | 31.569 | 32.000 | 32.523 | 32.915 | 33.800 | 34.800 | 35.985 | 37.523 | 39.392 | 39.685 | 41.038 | 46.138 | 50.592 | 55.608 | 59.654 | 62.485 | 71.738 | 84.177 | 93.746 | 97.146 | 99.292 | 103.585 | 106.154 | 101.200 | 104.238 | 107.562 | 112.915 | 118.815 | 121.908 | 124.615 | 127.515 | 131.392 | 136.269 | 140.023 | 140.969 | 137.900 | 140.477 | 149.123 | 150.038 | 148.769 | 153.585 | 159.362 | 170.192 | 176.954 | 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 | 270.619 |