According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for public transportation are 2,822.75% higher in 2024 versus 1936 (a $141.14 difference in value).
Between 1936 and 2024: Public transport experienced an average inflation rate of 3.91% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, public transport costing $5 in the year 1936 would cost $146.14 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.61% during this same period, inflation for public transport was higher.
In the year 1936: Pricing changed by -1.28%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for public transport during the 1936-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1936 (1.07%), inflation for public transport was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Public transport, over time, for $5 beginning in 1936. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1936 | $5.00 | -1.28% |
| 1937 | $4.96 | -0.71% |
| 1938 | $5.03 | 1.35% |
| 1939 | $5.06 | 0.66% |
| 1940 | $5.06 | 0.00% ** |
| 1941 | $5.06 | 0.00% ** |
| 1942 | $5.10 | 0.66% |
| 1943 | $5.12 | 0.44% |
| 1944 | $5.12 | 0.00% ** |
| 1945 | $5.12 | 0.00% ** |
| 1946 | $5.28 | 3.04% |
| 1947 | $5.49 | 4.11% |
| 1948 | $6.22 | 13.25% |
| 1949 | $6.91 | 11.08% |
| 1950 | $7.46 | 7.93% |
| 1951 | $8.25 | 10.56% |
| 1952 | $8.79 | 6.54% |
| 1953 | $9.37 | 6.63% |
| 1954 | $10.00 | 6.76% |
| 1955 | $10.28 | 2.74% |
| 1956 | $10.69 | 4.00% |
| 1957 | $11.09 | 3.81% |
| 1958 | $11.62 | 4.75% |
| 1959 | $11.96 | 2.95% |
| 1960 | $12.37 | 3.40% |
| 1961 | $12.92 | 4.43% |
| 1962 | $13.34 | 3.28% |
| 1963 | $13.50 | 1.22% |
| 1964 | $13.75 | 1.84% |
| 1965 | $14.03 | 2.05% |
| 1966 | $14.53 | 3.54% |
| 1967 | $15.27 | 5.07% |
| 1968 | $15.98 | 4.68% |
| 1969 | $17.21 | 7.66% |
| 1970 | $19.60 | 13.93% |
| 1971 | $21.01 | 7.18% |
| 1972 | $21.88 | 4.14% |
| 1973 | $22.10 | 1.00% |
| 1974 | $22.60 | 2.25% |
| 1975 | $24.21 | 7.14% |
| 1976 | $26.59 | 9.83% |
| 1977 | $27.85 | 4.72% |
| 1978 | $28.67 | 2.97% |
| 1979 | $30.58 | 6.66% |
| 1980 | $38.41 | 25.59% |
| 1981 | $47.64 | 24.02% |
| 1982 | $52.82 | 10.88% |
| 1983 | $55.35 | 4.81% |
| 1984 | $58.81 | 6.23% |
| 1985 | $61.49 | 4.56% |
| 1986 | $65.09 | 5.86% |
| 1987 | $67.39 | 3.53% |
| 1988 | $68.62 | 1.82% |
| 1989 | $72.09 | 5.05% |
| 1990 | $79.38 | 10.12% |
| 1991 | $82.89 | 4.42% |
| 1992 | $84.25 | 1.64% |
| 1993 | $92.95 | 10.32% |
| 1994 | $95.71 | 2.98% |
| 1995 | $97.89 | 2.28% |
| 1996 | $101.24 | 3.42% |
| 1997 | $103.93 | 2.66% |
| 1998 | $105.94 | 1.94% |
| 1999 | $110.03 | 3.86% |
| 2000 | $116.64 | 6.01% |
| 2001 | $117.24 | 0.51% |
| 2002 | $115.41 | -1.56% |
| 2003 | $116.49 | 0.94% |
| 2004 | $116.36 | -0.11% |
| 2005 | $120.92 | 3.92% |
| 2006 | $126.11 | 4.29% |
| 2007 | $128.02 | 1.51% |
| 2008 | $139.45 | 8.93% |
| 2009 | $131.55 | -5.67% |
| 2010 | $139.90 | 6.35% |
| 2011 | $149.95 | 7.18% |
| 2012 | $151.03 | 0.72% |
| 2013 | $155.20 | 2.76% |
| 2014 | $153.84 | -0.88% |
| 2015 | $149.57 | -2.77% |
| 2016 | $147.72 | -1.24% |
| 2017 | $146.45 | -0.86% |
| 2018 | $144.03 | -1.65% |
| 2019 | $144.41 | 0.27% |
| 2020 | $126.60 | -12.34% |
| 2021 | $128.69 | 1.65% |
| 2022 | $154.34 | 19.94% |
| 2023 | $148.96 | -3.49% |
| 2024 | $146.14 | -1.90%* |
* 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 Public 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 | 9.100 | 8.983 | 8.920 | 9.040 | 9.100 | 9.100 | 9.100 | 9.160 | 9.200 | 9.200 | 9.200 | 9.480 | 9.869 | 11.177 | 12.415 | 13.400 | 14.815 | 15.785 | 16.831 | 17.969 | 18.462 | 19.200 | 19.931 | 20.877 | 21.492 | 22.223 | 23.208 | 23.969 | 24.262 | 24.708 | 25.215 | 26.108 | 27.431 | 28.715 | 30.915 | 35.223 | 37.754 | 39.315 | 39.708 | 40.600 | 43.500 | 47.777 | 50.031 | 51.515 | 54.946 | 69.008 | 85.585 | 94.892 | 99.454 | 105.654 | 110.477 | 116.954 | 121.077 | 123.285 | 129.515 | 142.623 | 148.931 | 151.369 | 166.992 | 171.962 | 175.885 | 181.892 | 186.723 | 190.338 | 197.685 | 209.562 | 210.638 | 207.354 | 209.300 | 209.062 | 217.254 | 226.577 | 230.002 | 250.549 | 236.348 | 251.351 | 269.403 | 271.351 | 278.851 | 276.394 | 268.725 | 265.397 | 263.116 | 258.771 | 259.463 | 227.453 | 231.209 | 277.304 | 267.634 | 262.561 |