According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for public transportation are 2,750.12% higher in 2026 versus 1938 (a $137.51 difference in value).
Between 1938 and 2026:Public transport experienced an average inflation rate of 3.88% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, public transport costing $5 in the year 1938 would cost $142.51 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.63% during this same period, inflation for public transport was higher.
In the year 1938: Pricing changed by 1.40%, which is below the average yearly change for public transport during the 1938-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1938 (-2.03%), inflation for public transport was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Public transport, over time, for $5 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 | $5.00 | 1.40% |
| 1939 | $5.04 | 0.74% |
| 1940 | $5.04 | 0.00% ** |
| 1941 | $5.04 | 0.00% ** |
| 1942 | $5.07 | 0.64% |
| 1943 | $5.09 | 0.45% |
| 1944 | $5.09 | 0.00% ** |
| 1945 | $5.09 | 0.00% ** |
| 1946 | $5.22 | 2.54% |
| 1947 | $5.46 | 4.59% |
| 1948 | $6.19 | 13.26% |
| 1949 | $6.87 | 11.11% |
| 1950 | $7.42 | 7.92% |
| 1951 | $8.20 | 10.57% |
| 1952 | $8.74 | 6.52% |
| 1953 | $9.32 | 6.65% |
| 1954 | $9.94 | 6.73% |
| 1955 | $10.22 | 2.74% |
| 1956 | $10.63 | 4.02% |
| 1957 | $11.03 | 3.82% |
| 1958 | $11.55 | 4.72% |
| 1959 | $11.90 | 2.95% |
| 1960 | $12.30 | 3.41% |
| 1961 | $12.85 | 4.42% |
| 1962 | $13.27 | 3.27% |
| 1963 | $13.43 | 1.22% |
| 1964 | $13.68 | 1.86% |
| 1965 | $13.96 | 2.06% |
| 1966 | $14.45 | 3.54% |
| 1967 | $15.18 | 5.08% |
| 1968 | $15.89 | 4.68% |
| 1969 | $17.11 | 7.66% |
| 1970 | $19.50 | 13.94% |
| 1971 | $20.89 | 7.17% |
| 1972 | $21.76 | 4.15% |
| 1973 | $21.98 | 1.00% |
| 1974 | $22.47 | 2.25% |
| 1975 | $24.08 | 7.14% |
| 1976 | $26.44 | 9.83% |
| 1977 | $27.69 | 4.73% |
| 1978 | $28.51 | 2.96% |
| 1979 | $30.42 | 6.66% |
| 1980 | $38.20 | 25.58% |
| 1981 | $47.37 | 24.02% |
| 1982 | $52.52 | 10.88% |
| 1983 | $55.05 | 4.80% |
| 1984 | $58.48 | 6.23% |
| 1985 | $61.15 | 4.57% |
| 1986 | $64.73 | 5.86% |
| 1987 | $67.02 | 3.53% |
| 1988 | $68.24 | 1.82% |
| 1989 | $71.69 | 5.06% |
| 1990 | $78.94 | 10.12% |
| 1991 | $82.44 | 4.42% |
| 1992 | $83.78 | 1.63% |
| 1993 | $92.43 | 10.32% |
| 1994 | $95.18 | 2.97% |
| 1995 | $97.35 | 2.28% |
| 1996 | $100.68 | 3.42% |
| 1997 | $103.35 | 2.66% |
| 1998 | $105.36 | 1.94% |
| 1999 | $109.42 | 3.86% |
| 2000 | $115.99 | 6.01% |
| 2001 | $116.59 | 0.52% |
| 2002 | $114.77 | -1.56% |
| 2003 | $115.85 | 0.94% |
| 2004 | $115.71 | -0.12% |
| 2005 | $120.25 | 3.92% |
| 2006 | $125.41 | 4.29% |
| 2007 | $127.31 | 1.51% |
| 2008 | $138.68 | 8.93% |
| 2009 | $130.82 | -5.67% |
| 2010 | $139.12 | 6.35% |
| 2011 | $149.12 | 7.18% |
| 2012 | $150.19 | 0.72% |
| 2013 | $154.35 | 2.76% |
| 2014 | $152.99 | -0.88% |
| 2015 | $148.74 | -2.77% |
| 2016 | $146.90 | -1.24% |
| 2017 | $145.64 | -0.86% |
| 2018 | $143.23 | -1.65% |
| 2019 | $143.61 | 0.27% |
| 2020 | $125.90 | -12.34% |
| 2021 | $127.98 | 1.65% |
| 2022 | $153.49 | 19.94% |
| 2023 | $148.14 | -3.49% |
| 2024 | $145.41 | -1.84% |
| 2025 | $143.23 | -1.50% |
| 2026 | $142.51 | -0.50%* |
* 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 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 9.100 | 9.000 | 8.908 | 9.033 | 9.100 | 9.100 | 9.100 | 9.158 | 9.200 | 9.200 | 9.200 | 9.433 | 9.867 | 11.175 | 12.417 | 13.400 | 14.817 | 15.783 | 16.833 | 17.967 | 18.458 | 19.200 | 19.933 | 20.875 | 21.492 | 22.225 | 23.208 | 23.967 | 24.258 | 24.708 | 25.217 | 26.108 | 27.433 | 28.717 | 30.917 | 35.225 | 37.750 | 39.317 | 39.708 | 40.600 | 43.500 | 47.775 | 50.033 | 51.517 | 54.950 | 69.008 | 85.583 | 94.892 | 99.450 | 105.650 | 110.475 | 116.950 | 121.075 | 123.283 | 129.517 | 142.625 | 148.933 | 151.367 | 166.992 | 171.958 | 175.883 | 181.892 | 186.725 | 190.342 | 197.683 | 209.558 | 210.642 | 207.350 | 209.300 | 209.058 | 217.250 | 226.575 | 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 | 262.706 | 258.762 | 257.461 |