According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for public transportation are 39.68% higher in 2026 versus 2002 (a $1.98 difference in value).
Between 2002 and 2026, Public transport experienced an average inflation rate of 1.40% per year. In other words, public transport costing $5 in the year 2002 would cost $6.98 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.58% during this same period, inflation for public transport was lower.
In the year 2002: Pricing changed by -1.56%, which is below the average yearly change for public transport during the 2002-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2002 (1.59%), inflation for public transport was much lower.
The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Public transport, over time, for $5 beginning in 2002. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | $5.00 | -1.56% |
| 2003 | $5.05 | 0.94% |
| 2004 | $5.04 | -0.12% |
| 2005 | $5.24 | 3.92% |
| 2006 | $5.46 | 4.29% |
| 2007 | $5.55 | 1.51% |
| 2008 | $6.04 | 8.93% |
| 2009 | $5.70 | -5.67% |
| 2010 | $6.06 | 6.35% |
| 2011 | $6.50 | 7.18% |
| 2012 | $6.54 | 0.72% |
| 2013 | $6.72 | 2.76% |
| 2014 | $6.66 | -0.88% |
| 2015 | $6.48 | -2.77% |
| 2016 | $6.40 | -1.24% |
| 2017 | $6.34 | -0.86% |
| 2018 | $6.24 | -1.65% |
| 2019 | $6.26 | 0.27% |
| 2020 | $5.48 | -12.34% |
| 2021 | $5.58 | 1.65% |
| 2022 | $6.69 | 19.94% |
| 2023 | $6.45 | -3.49% |
| 2024 | $6.33 | -1.84% |
| 2025 | $6.24 | -1.49% |
| 2026 | $6.98 | 11.91%* |
* 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 | 258.793 | 289.616 |