According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for public transportation are 1,637.64% higher in 2026 versus 1951 (a $81.88 difference in value).
Between 1951 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 1951 would cost $86.88 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.42% during this same period, inflation for public transport was higher.
In the year 1951: Pricing changed by 10.57%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for public transport during the 1951-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1951 (7.86%), inflation for public transport was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Public transport, over time, for $5 beginning in 1951. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1951 | $5.00 | 10.57% |
| 1952 | $5.33 | 6.52% |
| 1953 | $5.68 | 6.65% |
| 1954 | $6.06 | 6.73% |
| 1955 | $6.23 | 2.74% |
| 1956 | $6.48 | 4.02% |
| 1957 | $6.73 | 3.82% |
| 1958 | $7.04 | 4.72% |
| 1959 | $7.25 | 2.95% |
| 1960 | $7.50 | 3.41% |
| 1961 | $7.83 | 4.42% |
| 1962 | $8.09 | 3.27% |
| 1963 | $8.19 | 1.22% |
| 1964 | $8.34 | 1.86% |
| 1965 | $8.51 | 2.06% |
| 1966 | $8.81 | 3.54% |
| 1967 | $9.26 | 5.08% |
| 1968 | $9.69 | 4.68% |
| 1969 | $10.43 | 7.66% |
| 1970 | $11.89 | 13.94% |
| 1971 | $12.74 | 7.17% |
| 1972 | $13.27 | 4.15% |
| 1973 | $13.40 | 1.00% |
| 1974 | $13.70 | 2.25% |
| 1975 | $14.68 | 7.14% |
| 1976 | $16.12 | 9.83% |
| 1977 | $16.88 | 4.73% |
| 1978 | $17.38 | 2.96% |
| 1979 | $18.54 | 6.66% |
| 1980 | $23.29 | 25.58% |
| 1981 | $28.88 | 24.02% |
| 1982 | $32.02 | 10.88% |
| 1983 | $33.56 | 4.80% |
| 1984 | $35.65 | 6.23% |
| 1985 | $37.28 | 4.57% |
| 1986 | $39.47 | 5.86% |
| 1987 | $40.86 | 3.53% |
| 1988 | $41.60 | 1.82% |
| 1989 | $43.71 | 5.06% |
| 1990 | $48.13 | 10.12% |
| 1991 | $50.26 | 4.42% |
| 1992 | $51.08 | 1.63% |
| 1993 | $56.35 | 10.32% |
| 1994 | $58.03 | 2.97% |
| 1995 | $59.35 | 2.28% |
| 1996 | $61.38 | 3.42% |
| 1997 | $63.01 | 2.66% |
| 1998 | $64.23 | 1.94% |
| 1999 | $66.71 | 3.86% |
| 2000 | $70.72 | 6.01% |
| 2001 | $71.08 | 0.52% |
| 2002 | $69.97 | -1.56% |
| 2003 | $70.63 | 0.94% |
| 2004 | $70.55 | -0.12% |
| 2005 | $73.31 | 3.92% |
| 2006 | $76.46 | 4.29% |
| 2007 | $77.62 | 1.51% |
| 2008 | $84.55 | 8.93% |
| 2009 | $79.76 | -5.67% |
| 2010 | $84.82 | 6.35% |
| 2011 | $90.91 | 7.18% |
| 2012 | $91.57 | 0.72% |
| 2013 | $94.10 | 2.76% |
| 2014 | $93.27 | -0.88% |
| 2015 | $90.68 | -2.77% |
| 2016 | $89.56 | -1.24% |
| 2017 | $88.79 | -0.86% |
| 2018 | $87.32 | -1.65% |
| 2019 | $87.56 | 0.27% |
| 2020 | $76.76 | -12.34% |
| 2021 | $78.02 | 1.65% |
| 2022 | $93.58 | 19.94% |
| 2023 | $90.32 | -3.49% |
| 2024 | $88.65 | -1.84% |
| 2025 | $87.32 | -1.50% |
| 2026 | $86.88 | -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 |