According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for private transportation are 1,073.65% higher in 2025 versus 1948 (a $214.73 difference in value).
Between 1948 and 2025: Private transportation experienced an average inflation rate of 3.25% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, private transportation costing $20 in the year 1948 would cost $234.73 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.41% during this same period, inflation for private transportation was lower.
In the year 1948: Pricing changed by 10.68%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for private transportation during the 1948-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1948 (7.72%), inflation for private transportation was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Private transportation, over time, for $20 beginning in 1948. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1948 | $20.00 | 10.68% |
| 1949 | $21.22 | 6.08% |
| 1950 | $21.26 | 0.22% |
| 1951 | $22.21 | 4.46% |
| 1952 | $23.71 | 6.76% |
| 1953 | $24.13 | 1.77% |
| 1954 | $23.56 | -2.38% |
| 1955 | $23.16 | -1.70% |
| 1956 | $23.49 | 1.41% |
| 1957 | $24.85 | 5.80% |
| 1958 | $25.62 | 3.09% |
| 1959 | $26.72 | 4.33% |
| 1960 | $26.57 | -0.57% |
| 1961 | $26.78 | 0.80% |
| 1962 | $27.29 | 1.89% |
| 1963 | $27.41 | 0.42% |
| 1964 | $27.78 | 1.36% |
| 1965 | $28.23 | 1.63% |
| 1966 | $28.57 | 1.21% |
| 1967 | $29.34 | 2.69% |
| 1968 | $30.21 | 2.96% |
| 1969 | $31.24 | 3.40% |
| 1970 | $32.57 | 4.28% |
| 1971 | $34.20 | 4.98% |
| 1972 | $34.45 | 0.74% |
| 1973 | $35.63 | 3.41% |
| 1974 | $40.05 | 12.43% |
| 1975 | $43.92 | 9.65% |
| 1976 | $48.27 | 9.91% |
| 1977 | $51.79 | 7.28% |
| 1978 | $54.24 | 4.75% |
| 1979 | $62.28 | 14.81% |
| 1980 | $73.08 | 17.34% |
| 1981 | $81.38 | 11.37% |
| 1982 | $84.33 | 3.63% |
| 1983 | $86.20 | 2.21% |
| 1984 | $89.92 | 4.32% |
| 1985 | $92.15 | 2.48% |
| 1986 | $87.85 | -4.67% |
| 1987 | $90.49 | 3.00% |
| 1988 | $93.38 | 3.19% |
| 1989 | $98.02 | 4.98% |
| 1990 | $103.15 | 5.23% |
| 1991 | $105.83 | 2.60% |
| 1992 | $108.18 | 2.22% |
| 1993 | $110.70 | 2.33% |
| 1994 | $114.06 | 3.04% |
| 1995 | $118.30 | 3.71% |
| 1996 | $121.56 | 2.75% |
| 1997 | $122.38 | 0.68% |
| 1998 | $119.71 | -2.18% |
| 1999 | $121.95 | 1.87% |
| 2000 | $129.46 | 6.15% |
| 2001 | $130.25 | 0.61% |
| 2002 | $129.15 | -0.85% |
| 2003 | $133.33 | 3.24% |
| 2004 | $138.34 | 3.76% |
| 2005 | $147.75 | 6.80% |
| 2006 | $153.62 | 3.97% |
| 2007 | $156.94 | 2.16% |
| 2008 | $165.84 | 5.68% |
| 2009 | $151.71 | -8.52% |
| 2010 | $163.85 | 8.00% |
| 2011 | $180.26 | 10.01% |
| 2012 | $184.69 | 2.46% |
| 2013 | $184.39 | -0.17% |
| 2014 | $183.17 | -0.66% |
| 2015 | $168.15 | -8.20% |
| 2016 | $164.51 | -2.17% |
| 2017 | $170.70 | 3.76% |
| 2018 | $179.21 | 4.99% |
| 2019 | $178.64 | -0.32% |
| 2020 | $172.46 | -3.46% |
| 2021 | $199.41 | 15.63% |
| 2022 | $230.27 | 15.47% |
| 2023 | $231.24 | 0.42% |
| 2024 | $234.66 | 1.48% |
| 2025 | $234.73 | 0.03%* |
* 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 |
| 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 | 270.308 | 270.391 |