According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for transportation are 1,779.02% higher in 2026 versus 1937 (a $144,100.91 difference in value).
Between 1937 and 2026: Transportation experienced an average inflation rate of 3.35% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, transportation costing $8,100 in the year 1937 would cost $152,200.91 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.56% during this same period, inflation for transportation was lower.
In the year 1937: Pricing changed by 1.81%, which is below the average yearly change for transportation during the 1937-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1937 (3.73%), inflation for transportation was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Transportation, over time, for $8,100 beginning in 1937. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1937 | $8,100.00 | 1.81% |
| 1938 | $8,193.05 | 1.15% |
| 1939 | $7,992.99 | -2.44% |
| 1940 | $7,941.82 | -0.64% |
| 1941 | $8,146.52 | 2.58% |
| 1942 | $8,890.92 | 9.14% |
| 1943 | $8,900.23 | 0.10% |
| 1944 | $8,876.97 | -0.26% |
| 1945 | $8,876.97 | 0.00% ** |
| 1946 | $9,249.17 | 4.19% |
| 1947 | $10,300.63 | 11.37% |
| 1948 | $11,487.02 | 11.52% |
| 1949 | $12,347.73 | 7.49% |
| 1950 | $12,664.10 | 2.56% |
| 1951 | $13,478.29 | 6.43% |
| 1952 | $14,366.92 | 6.59% |
| 1953 | $14,776.34 | 2.85% |
| 1954 | $14,562.32 | -1.45% |
| 1955 | $14,385.53 | -1.21% |
| 1956 | $14,646.07 | 1.81% |
| 1957 | $15,460.25 | 5.56% |
| 1958 | $15,972.03 | 3.31% |
| 1959 | $16,632.68 | 4.14% |
| 1960 | $16,628.03 | -0.03% |
| 1961 | $16,818.78 | 1.15% |
| 1962 | $17,167.72 | 2.07% |
| 1963 | $17,265.42 | 0.57% |
| 1964 | $17,521.31 | 1.48% |
| 1965 | $17,809.76 | 1.65% |
| 1966 | $18,065.65 | 1.44% |
| 1967 | $18,577.43 | 2.83% |
| 1968 | $19,172.95 | 3.21% |
| 1969 | $19,908.04 | 3.83% |
| 1970 | $20,931.59 | 5.14% |
| 1971 | $22,029.58 | 5.25% |
| 1972 | $22,290.12 | 1.18% |
| 1973 | $22,992.65 | 3.15% |
| 1974 | $25,570.13 | 11.21% |
| 1975 | $27,970.82 | 9.39% |
| 1976 | $30,753.02 | 9.95% |
| 1977 | $32,921.08 | 7.05% |
| 1978 | $34,465.71 | 4.69% |
| 1979 | $39,378.75 | 14.25% |
| 1980 | $46,390.06 | 17.80% |
| 1981 | $52,005.63 | 12.11% |
| 1982 | $54,150.43 | 4.12% |
| 1983 | $55,443.83 | 2.39% |
| 1984 | $57,905.00 | 4.44% |
| 1985 | $59,435.67 | 2.64% |
| 1986 | $57,123.38 | -3.89% |
| 1987 | $58,849.45 | 3.02% |
| 1988 | $60,663.93 | 3.08% |
| 1989 | $63,702.01 | 5.01% |
| 1990 | $67,284.43 | 5.62% |
| 1991 | $69,136.13 | 2.75% |
| 1992 | $70,648.19 | 2.19% |
| 1993 | $72,779.04 | 3.02% |
| 1994 | $74,979.67 | 3.02% |
| 1995 | $77,664.16 | 3.58% |
| 1996 | $79,855.49 | 2.82% |
| 1997 | $80,548.71 | 0.87% |
| 1998 | $79,027.34 | -1.89% |
| 1999 | $80,618.50 | 2.01% |
| 2000 | $85,605.97 | 6.19% |
| 2001 | $86,117.75 | 0.60% |
| 2002 | $85,340.78 | -0.90% |
| 2003 | $87,964.79 | 3.07% |
| 2004 | $91,058.70 | 3.52% |
| 2005 | $97,092.99 | 6.63% |
| 2006 | $100,973.18 | 4.00% |
| 2007 | $103,107.70 | 2.11% |
| 2008 | $109,175.16 | 5.88% |
| 2009 | $100,076.59 | -8.33% |
| 2010 | $107,972.91 | 7.89% |
| 2011 | $118,563.90 | 9.81% |
| 2012 | $121,339.44 | 2.34% |
| 2013 | $121,380.85 | 0.03% |
| 2014 | $120,558.85 | -0.68% |
| 2015 | $111,138.84 | -7.81% |
| 2016 | $108,809.05 | -2.10% |
| 2017 | $112,533.75 | 3.42% |
| 2018 | $117,613.40 | 4.51% |
| 2019 | $117,281.07 | -0.28% |
| 2020 | $112,404.88 | -4.16% |
| 2021 | $128,775.76 | 14.56% |
| 2022 | $148,691.90 | 15.47% |
| 2023 | $149,054.00 | 0.24% |
| 2024 | $151,123.53 | 1.39% |
| 2025 | $152,207.96 | 0.72% |
| 2026 | $152,200.91 | 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 |