According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for transportation are 192.66% higher in 2026 versus 1981 (a $140.64 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 $73 in the year 1981 would cost $213.64 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 $73 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 | $73.00 | 12.11% |
| 1982 | $76.01 | 4.12% |
| 1983 | $77.83 | 2.39% |
| 1984 | $81.28 | 4.44% |
| 1985 | $83.43 | 2.64% |
| 1986 | $80.18 | -3.89% |
| 1987 | $82.61 | 3.02% |
| 1988 | $85.15 | 3.08% |
| 1989 | $89.42 | 5.01% |
| 1990 | $94.45 | 5.62% |
| 1991 | $97.05 | 2.75% |
| 1992 | $99.17 | 2.19% |
| 1993 | $102.16 | 3.02% |
| 1994 | $105.25 | 3.02% |
| 1995 | $109.02 | 3.58% |
| 1996 | $112.09 | 2.82% |
| 1997 | $113.07 | 0.87% |
| 1998 | $110.93 | -1.89% |
| 1999 | $113.16 | 2.01% |
| 2000 | $120.16 | 6.19% |
| 2001 | $120.88 | 0.60% |
| 2002 | $119.79 | -0.90% |
| 2003 | $123.48 | 3.07% |
| 2004 | $127.82 | 3.52% |
| 2005 | $136.29 | 6.63% |
| 2006 | $141.74 | 4.00% |
| 2007 | $144.73 | 2.11% |
| 2008 | $153.25 | 5.88% |
| 2009 | $140.48 | -8.33% |
| 2010 | $151.56 | 7.89% |
| 2011 | $166.43 | 9.81% |
| 2012 | $170.32 | 2.34% |
| 2013 | $170.38 | 0.03% |
| 2014 | $169.23 | -0.68% |
| 2015 | $156.00 | -7.81% |
| 2016 | $152.73 | -2.10% |
| 2017 | $157.96 | 3.42% |
| 2018 | $165.09 | 4.51% |
| 2019 | $164.63 | -0.28% |
| 2020 | $157.78 | -4.16% |
| 2021 | $180.76 | 14.56% |
| 2022 | $208.72 | 15.47% |
| 2023 | $209.23 | 0.24% |
| 2024 | $212.13 | 1.39% |
| 2025 | $213.65 | 0.72% |
| 2026 | $213.64 | 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 |