According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for transportation are 1,819.82% higher in 2026 versus 1935 (a $18,198,239,436.62 difference in value).
Between 1935 and 2026: Transportation experienced an average inflation rate of 3.30% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, transportation costing $1,000,000,000 in the year 1935 would cost $19,198,239,436.62 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.54% during this same period, inflation for transportation was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Transportation, over time, for $1,000,000,000 beginning in 1935. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1935 | $1,000,000,000.00 | - |
| 1936 | $1,003,521,126.76 | 0.35% |
| 1937 | $1,021,713,615.02 | 1.81% |
| 1938 | $1,033,450,704.23 | 1.15% |
| 1939 | $1,008,215,962.44 | -2.44% |
| 1940 | $1,001,760,563.38 | -0.64% |
| 1941 | $1,027,582,159.62 | 2.58% |
| 1942 | $1,121,478,873.24 | 9.14% |
| 1943 | $1,122,652,582.16 | 0.10% |
| 1944 | $1,119,718,309.86 | -0.26% |
| 1945 | $1,119,718,309.86 | 0.00% ** |
| 1946 | $1,166,666,666.67 | 4.19% |
| 1947 | $1,299,295,774.65 | 11.37% |
| 1948 | $1,448,943,661.97 | 11.52% |
| 1949 | $1,557,511,737.09 | 7.49% |
| 1950 | $1,597,417,840.38 | 2.56% |
| 1951 | $1,700,117,370.89 | 6.43% |
| 1952 | $1,812,206,572.77 | 6.59% |
| 1953 | $1,863,849,765.26 | 2.85% |
| 1954 | $1,836,854,460.09 | -1.45% |
| 1955 | $1,814,553,990.61 | -1.21% |
| 1956 | $1,847,417,840.38 | 1.81% |
| 1957 | $1,950,117,370.89 | 5.56% |
| 1958 | $2,014,671,361.50 | 3.31% |
| 1959 | $2,098,004,694.84 | 4.14% |
| 1960 | $2,097,417,840.38 | -0.03% |
| 1961 | $2,121,478,873.24 | 1.15% |
| 1962 | $2,165,492,957.75 | 2.07% |
| 1963 | $2,177,816,901.41 | 0.57% |
| 1964 | $2,210,093,896.71 | 1.48% |
| 1965 | $2,246,478,873.24 | 1.65% |
| 1966 | $2,278,755,868.54 | 1.44% |
| 1967 | $2,343,309,859.15 | 2.83% |
| 1968 | $2,418,427,230.05 | 3.21% |
| 1969 | $2,511,150,234.74 | 3.83% |
| 1970 | $2,640,258,215.96 | 5.14% |
| 1971 | $2,778,755,868.54 | 5.25% |
| 1972 | $2,811,619,718.31 | 1.18% |
| 1973 | $2,900,234,741.78 | 3.15% |
| 1974 | $3,225,352,112.68 | 11.21% |
| 1975 | $3,528,169,014.08 | 9.39% |
| 1976 | $3,879,107,981.22 | 9.95% |
| 1977 | $4,152,582,159.62 | 7.05% |
| 1978 | $4,347,417,840.38 | 4.69% |
| 1979 | $4,967,136,150.23 | 14.25% |
| 1980 | $5,851,525,821.60 | 17.80% |
| 1981 | $6,559,859,154.93 | 12.11% |
| 1982 | $6,830,399,061.03 | 4.12% |
| 1983 | $6,993,544,600.94 | 2.39% |
| 1984 | $7,303,990,610.33 | 4.44% |
| 1985 | $7,497,065,727.70 | 2.64% |
| 1986 | $7,205,399,061.03 | -3.89% |
| 1987 | $7,423,122,065.73 | 3.02% |
| 1988 | $7,651,995,305.16 | 3.08% |
| 1989 | $8,035,211,267.61 | 5.01% |
| 1990 | $8,487,089,201.88 | 5.62% |
| 1991 | $8,720,657,277.00 | 2.75% |
| 1992 | $8,911,384,976.53 | 2.19% |
| 1993 | $9,180,164,319.25 | 3.02% |
| 1994 | $9,457,746,478.87 | 3.02% |
| 1995 | $9,796,361,502.35 | 3.58% |
| 1996 | $10,072,769,953.05 | 2.82% |
| 1997 | $10,160,211,267.61 | 0.87% |
| 1998 | $9,968,309,859.15 | -1.89% |
| 1999 | $10,169,014,084.51 | 2.01% |
| 2000 | $10,798,122,065.73 | 6.19% |
| 2001 | $10,862,676,056.34 | 0.60% |
| 2002 | $10,764,671,361.50 | -0.90% |
| 2003 | $11,095,657,277.00 | 3.07% |
| 2004 | $11,485,915,492.96 | 3.52% |
| 2005 | $12,247,065,727.70 | 6.63% |
| 2006 | $12,736,502,347.42 | 4.00% |
| 2007 | $13,005,745,305.16 | 2.11% |
| 2008 | $13,771,079,812.21 | 5.88% |
| 2009 | $12,623,409,624.41 | -8.33% |
| 2010 | $13,619,430,751.17 | 7.89% |
| 2011 | $14,955,352,112.68 | 9.81% |
| 2012 | $15,305,451,877.93 | 2.34% |
| 2013 | $15,310,674,882.63 | 0.03% |
| 2014 | $15,206,989,436.62 | -0.68% |
| 2015 | $14,018,773,474.18 | -7.81% |
| 2016 | $13,724,900,234.74 | -2.10% |
| 2017 | $14,194,724,178.40 | 3.42% |
| 2018 | $14,835,457,746.48 | 4.51% |
| 2019 | $14,793,538,732.39 | -0.28% |
| 2020 | $14,178,468,309.86 | -4.16% |
| 2021 | $16,243,450,704.23 | 14.56% |
| 2022 | $18,755,622,065.73 | 15.47% |
| 2023 | $18,801,296,948.36 | 0.24% |
| 2024 | $19,062,341,549.30 | 1.39% |
| 2025 | $19,199,129,321.38 | 0.72% |
| 2026 | $19,198,239,436.62 | 0.00%* |
* 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 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 | 14.200 | 14.250 | 14.508 | 14.675 | 14.317 | 14.225 | 14.592 | 15.925 | 15.942 | 15.900 | 15.900 | 16.567 | 18.450 | 20.575 | 22.117 | 22.683 | 24.142 | 25.733 | 26.467 | 26.083 | 25.767 | 26.233 | 27.692 | 28.608 | 29.792 | 29.783 | 30.125 | 30.750 | 30.925 | 31.383 | 31.900 | 32.358 | 33.275 | 34.342 | 35.658 | 37.492 | 39.458 | 39.925 | 41.183 | 45.800 | 50.100 | 55.083 | 58.967 | 61.733 | 70.533 | 83.092 | 93.150 | 96.992 | 99.308 | 103.717 | 106.458 | 102.317 | 105.408 | 108.658 | 114.100 | 120.517 | 123.833 | 126.542 | 130.358 | 134.300 | 139.108 | 143.033 | 144.275 | 141.550 | 144.400 | 153.333 | 154.250 | 152.858 | 157.558 | 163.100 | 173.908 | 180.858 | 184.682 | 195.549 | 179.252 | 193.396 | 212.366 | 217.337 | 217.412 | 215.939 | 199.067 | 194.894 | 201.565 | 210.663 | 210.068 | 201.334 | 230.657 | 266.330 | 266.978 | 270.685 | 272.628 | 272.615 |