According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for transportation are 192.66% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $134,863.66 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2026:Transportation experienced an average inflation rate of 2.42% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, transportation costing $70,000 in the year 1981 would cost $204,863.66 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.86% 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.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Transportation, over time, for $70,000 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 | $70,000.00 | 12.11% |
| 1982 | $72,886.92 | 4.12% |
| 1983 | $74,627.84 | 2.39% |
| 1984 | $77,940.60 | 4.44% |
| 1985 | $80,000.89 | 2.64% |
| 1986 | $76,888.53 | -3.89% |
| 1987 | $79,211.84 | 3.02% |
| 1988 | $81,654.14 | 3.08% |
| 1989 | $85,743.42 | 5.01% |
| 1990 | $90,565.40 | 5.62% |
| 1991 | $93,057.79 | 2.75% |
| 1992 | $95,093.04 | 2.19% |
| 1993 | $97,961.17 | 3.02% |
| 1994 | $100,923.24 | 3.02% |
| 1995 | $104,536.59 | 3.58% |
| 1996 | $107,486.13 | 2.82% |
| 1997 | $108,419.22 | 0.87% |
| 1998 | $106,371.44 | -1.89% |
| 1999 | $108,513.15 | 2.01% |
| 2000 | $115,226.34 | 6.19% |
| 2001 | $115,915.19 | 0.60% |
| 2002 | $114,869.39 | -0.90% |
| 2003 | $118,401.32 | 3.07% |
| 2004 | $122,565.75 | 3.52% |
| 2005 | $130,687.96 | 6.63% |
| 2006 | $135,910.72 | 4.00% |
| 2007 | $138,783.80 | 2.11% |
| 2008 | $146,950.65 | 5.88% |
| 2009 | $134,703.91 | -8.33% |
| 2010 | $145,332.41 | 7.89% |
| 2011 | $159,587.98 | 9.81% |
| 2012 | $163,323.88 | 2.34% |
| 2013 | $163,379.61 | 0.03% |
| 2014 | $162,273.19 | -0.68% |
| 2015 | $149,593.78 | -7.81% |
| 2016 | $146,457.87 | -2.10% |
| 2017 | $151,471.35 | 3.42% |
| 2018 | $158,308.59 | 4.51% |
| 2019 | $157,861.27 | -0.28% |
| 2020 | $151,297.88 | -4.16% |
| 2021 | $173,333.23 | 14.56% |
| 2022 | $200,140.51 | 15.47% |
| 2023 | $200,627.90 | 0.24% |
| 2024 | $203,413.50 | 1.39% |
| 2025 | $204,873.16 | 0.72% |
| 2026 | $204,863.66 | 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 |