According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for private transportation are 786.96% higher in 2026 versus 1959 (a $157.39 difference in value).
Between 1959 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 1959 would cost $177.39 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.66% during this same period, inflation for private transportation was lower.
In the year 1959: Pricing changed by 4.32%, which is above the average yearly change for private transportation during the 1959-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1959 (1.01%), inflation for private transportation was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Private transportation, over time, for $20 beginning in 1959. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1959 | $20.00 | 4.32% |
| 1960 | $19.89 | -0.57% |
| 1961 | $20.05 | 0.82% |
| 1962 | $20.43 | 1.89% |
| 1963 | $20.51 | 0.40% |
| 1964 | $20.79 | 1.37% |
| 1965 | $21.13 | 1.64% |
| 1966 | $21.39 | 1.20% |
| 1967 | $21.96 | 2.68% |
| 1968 | $22.61 | 2.96% |
| 1969 | $23.38 | 3.40% |
| 1970 | $24.38 | 4.28% |
| 1971 | $25.59 | 4.97% |
| 1972 | $25.78 | 0.74% |
| 1973 | $26.66 | 3.42% |
| 1974 | $29.97 | 12.41% |
| 1975 | $32.87 | 9.66% |
| 1976 | $36.13 | 9.92% |
| 1977 | $38.75 | 7.27% |
| 1978 | $40.60 | 4.75% |
| 1979 | $46.61 | 14.82% |
| 1980 | $54.69 | 17.33% |
| 1981 | $60.90 | 11.37% |
| 1982 | $63.12 | 3.64% |
| 1983 | $64.51 | 2.20% |
| 1984 | $67.30 | 4.32% |
| 1985 | $68.97 | 2.48% |
| 1986 | $65.75 | -4.66% |
| 1987 | $67.73 | 3.01% |
| 1988 | $69.88 | 3.18% |
| 1989 | $73.36 | 4.98% |
| 1990 | $77.20 | 5.23% |
| 1991 | $79.20 | 2.60% |
| 1992 | $80.96 | 2.22% |
| 1993 | $82.85 | 2.33% |
| 1994 | $85.37 | 3.04% |
| 1995 | $88.53 | 3.71% |
| 1996 | $90.97 | 2.76% |
| 1997 | $91.59 | 0.67% |
| 1998 | $89.59 | -2.18% |
| 1999 | $91.27 | 1.87% |
| 2000 | $96.89 | 6.16% |
| 2001 | $97.48 | 0.61% |
| 2002 | $96.65 | -0.85% |
| 2003 | $99.78 | 3.24% |
| 2004 | $103.54 | 3.76% |
| 2005 | $110.57 | 6.80% |
| 2006 | $114.96 | 3.97% |
| 2007 | $117.45 | 2.16% |
| 2008 | $124.12 | 5.68% |
| 2009 | $113.54 | -8.52% |
| 2010 | $122.63 | 8.00% |
| 2011 | $134.90 | 10.01% |
| 2012 | $138.23 | 2.46% |
| 2013 | $138.00 | -0.17% |
| 2014 | $137.08 | -0.66% |
| 2015 | $125.85 | -8.20% |
| 2016 | $123.12 | -2.17% |
| 2017 | $127.75 | 3.76% |
| 2018 | $134.13 | 4.99% |
| 2019 | $133.69 | -0.32% |
| 2020 | $129.07 | -3.46% |
| 2021 | $149.24 | 15.63% |
| 2022 | $172.33 | 15.47% |
| 2023 | $173.06 | 0.42% |
| 2024 | $175.62 | 1.48% |
| 2025 | $177.32 | 0.97% |
| 2026 | $177.39 | 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 |