Public transport priced at $5 in 1985 $11.86 in 2024

Public Transport Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Public Transport, 1985-2024 ($5)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for public transportation are 137.15% higher in 2024 versus 1985 (a $6.86 difference in value).

Between 1985 and 2024: Public transport experienced an average inflation rate of 2.24% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, public transport costing $5 in the year 1985 would cost $11.86 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.78% during this same period, inflation for public transport was lower.

In the year 1985: Pricing changed by 4.56%, which is above the average yearly change for public transport during the 1985-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1985 (3.55%), inflation for public transport was higher.

Price Inflation for Public transportation since 1935

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (25.59%), 1981 (24.02%), and 2022 (19.94%).

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Buying power of $5.00 since 1985

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Public transport, over time, for $5 beginning in 1985. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1985$5.004.56%
1986$5.295.86%
1987$5.483.53%
1988$5.581.82%
1989$5.865.05%
1990$6.4510.12%
1991$6.744.42%
1992$6.851.64%
1993$7.5610.32%
1994$7.782.98%
1995$7.962.28%
1996$8.233.42%
1997$8.452.66%
1998$8.611.94%
1999$8.953.86%
2000$9.486.01%
2001$9.530.51%
2002$9.38-1.56%
2003$9.470.94%
2004$9.46-0.11%
2005$9.833.92%
2006$10.254.29%
2007$10.411.51%
2008$11.348.93%
2009$10.70-5.67%
2010$11.386.35%
2011$12.197.18%
2012$12.280.72%
2013$12.622.76%
2014$12.51-0.88%
2015$12.16-2.77%
2016$12.01-1.24%
2017$11.91-0.86%
2018$11.71-1.65%
2019$11.740.27%
2020$10.29-12.34%
2021$10.461.65%
2022$12.5519.94%
2023$12.11-3.49%
2024$11.86-2.11%*

* 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:

Year193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI9.1008.9838.9209.0409.1009.1009.1009.1609.2009.2009.2009.4809.86911.17712.41513.40014.81515.78516.83117.96918.46219.20019.93120.87721.49222.22323.20823.96924.26224.70825.21526.10827.43128.71530.91535.22337.75439.31539.70840.60043.50047.77750.03151.51554.94669.00885.58594.89299.454105.654110.477116.954121.077123.285129.515142.623148.931151.369166.992171.962175.885181.892186.723190.338197.685209.562210.638207.354209.300209.062217.254226.577230.002250.549236.348251.351269.403271.351278.851276.394268.725265.397263.116258.771259.463227.453231.209277.304267.634261.999

Adjust public transport prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2024 / CPI in 1985 * 1985 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Public transportation was 110.477 in the year 1985 and 261.999 in 2024:

261.999 / 110.477 * $5 = $11.86

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $5 in 1985 has the same "purchasing power" as $11.86 in 2024 (in the CPI category of Public transportation).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Public transportation in 1935. In addition to public transport, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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