According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for transportation are 206.25% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $659.99 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2026, Transportation experienced an average inflation rate of 2.52% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, transportation costing $320 in the year 1981 would cost $979.99 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.92% during this same period, inflation for transportation was lower.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 12.11%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for transportation during the 1981-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation for transportation was higher.
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 Transportation, over time, for $320 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $320.00 | 12.11% |
| 1982 | $333.20 | 4.12% |
| 1983 | $341.16 | 2.39% |
| 1984 | $356.30 | 4.44% |
| 1985 | $365.72 | 2.64% |
| 1986 | $351.49 | -3.89% |
| 1987 | $362.11 | 3.02% |
| 1988 | $373.28 | 3.08% |
| 1989 | $391.97 | 5.01% |
| 1990 | $414.01 | 5.62% |
| 1991 | $425.41 | 2.75% |
| 1992 | $434.71 | 2.19% |
| 1993 | $447.82 | 3.02% |
| 1994 | $461.36 | 3.02% |
| 1995 | $477.88 | 3.58% |
| 1996 | $491.37 | 2.82% |
| 1997 | $495.63 | 0.87% |
| 1998 | $486.27 | -1.89% |
| 1999 | $496.06 | 2.01% |
| 2000 | $526.75 | 6.19% |
| 2001 | $529.90 | 0.60% |
| 2002 | $525.12 | -0.90% |
| 2003 | $541.26 | 3.07% |
| 2004 | $560.30 | 3.52% |
| 2005 | $597.43 | 6.63% |
| 2006 | $621.31 | 4.00% |
| 2007 | $634.44 | 2.11% |
| 2008 | $671.77 | 5.88% |
| 2009 | $615.79 | -8.33% |
| 2010 | $664.38 | 7.89% |
| 2011 | $729.55 | 9.81% |
| 2012 | $746.62 | 2.34% |
| 2013 | $746.88 | 0.03% |
| 2014 | $741.82 | -0.68% |
| 2015 | $683.86 | -7.81% |
| 2016 | $669.52 | -2.10% |
| 2017 | $692.44 | 3.42% |
| 2018 | $723.70 | 4.51% |
| 2019 | $721.65 | -0.28% |
| 2020 | $691.65 | -4.16% |
| 2021 | $792.38 | 14.56% |
| 2022 | $914.93 | 15.47% |
| 2023 | $917.16 | 0.24% |
| 2024 | $929.89 | 1.39% |
| 2025 | $935.42 | 0.59% |
| 2026 | $979.99 | 4.76%* |
* 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 | 272.295 | 285.268 |