Public transport price inflation, 2009→2026

Public Transport Inflation Calculator

Prices for Public Transport, 2009-2026 ($5)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for public transportation are 8.93% higher in 2026 versus 2009 (a $0.45 difference in value).

Between 2009 and 2026:Public transport experienced an average inflation rate of 0.50% per year. In other words, public transport costing $5 in the year 2009 would cost $5.45 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.46% during this same period, inflation for public transport was lower.

In the year 2009: Pricing changed by -5.67%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for public transport during the 2009-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2009 (-0.36%), inflation for public transport was much lower.

Price Inflation for Public transportation since 1935

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (25.58%), 1981 (24.02%), and 2022 (19.94%).

View price changes for other categories
Women's apparel · Wireless telephone services · Parking fees and tolls · Food · More

Buying power of $5.00 since 2009

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Public transport, over time, for $5 beginning in 2009. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
2009	$5.00	-5.67%
2010	$5.32	6.35%
2011	$5.70	7.18%
2012	$5.74	0.72%
2013	$5.90	2.76%
2014	$5.85	-0.88%
2015	$5.68	-2.77%
2016	$5.61	-1.24%
2017	$5.57	-0.86%
2018	$5.47	-1.65%
2019	$5.49	0.27%
2020	$4.81	-12.34%
2021	$4.89	1.65%
2022	$5.87	19.94%
2023	$5.66	-3.49%
2024	$5.56	-1.84%
2025	$5.47	-1.50%
2026	$5.45	-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

Adjust public transport prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 2009* 2009 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Public transportation was 236.348 in the year 2009 and 257.461 in 2026:

257.461 / 236.348* $5 = $5.45

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $5 in 2009 has the same "purchasing power" as $5.45 in 2026 (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.