Transportation priced at $20 in 2004 $25.76 in 2019

Transportation Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Transportation, 2004-2019 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for transportation were 28.80% higher in 2019 versus 2004 (a $5.76 difference in value).

Between 2004 and 2019: Transportation experienced an average inflation rate of 1.70% per year. In other words, transportation costing $20 in the year 2004 would cost $25.76 in 2019 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.04% during this same period, inflation for transportation was lower.

In the year 2004: Pricing changed by 3.52%, which is above the average yearly change for transportation during the 2004-2019 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2004 (2.68%), inflation for transportation was higher.

Price Inflation for Transportation since 1935

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1980 (17.81%), 2022 (15.47%), and 2021 (14.56%).

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Buying power of $20.00 since 2004

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Transportation, over time, for $20 beginning in 2004. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
2004$20.003.52%
2005$21.336.63%
2006$22.184.00%
2007$22.652.11%
2008$23.985.88%
2009$21.98-8.33%
2010$23.727.89%
2011$26.049.81%
2012$26.652.34%
2013$26.660.03%
2014$26.48-0.68%
2015$24.41-7.81%
2016$23.90-2.10%
2017$24.723.42%
2018$25.834.51%
2019$25.76-0.28%
2020$24.69-4.16%
2021$28.2814.56%
2022$32.6615.47%
2023$32.740.24%
2024$32.42-0.98%*

* 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:

Year193519361937193819391940194119421943194419451946194719481949195019511952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI14.20014.26714.56014.62014.30014.22014.76016.02015.92015.90015.90016.86018.45420.57722.11522.68524.13825.73126.46926.08525.76926.23127.69228.60829.79229.78530.12330.75430.92331.38531.90032.35433.27734.33835.66237.49239.46239.92341.18545.80050.10055.08558.96961.73170.53183.09293.15496.99299.308103.715106.454102.315105.408108.662114.100120.515123.831126.538130.362134.300139.108143.031144.277141.554144.400153.331154.254152.862157.562163.100173.908180.862184.682195.549179.252193.396212.366217.337217.412215.939199.067194.894201.565210.664210.068201.334230.657266.330266.978264.374

Adjust transportation prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2019 / CPI in 2004 * 2004 USD value = 2019 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Transportation was 163.100 in the year 2004 and 210.068 in 2019:

210.068 / 163.100 * $20 = $25.76

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 2004 has the same "purchasing power" as $25.76 in 2019 (in the CPI category of Transportation).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Transportation in 1935. In addition to transportation, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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