Used cars and trucks price history from 1984 through 2019

Used Cars And Trucks Inflation Calculator

Prices for Used Cars And Trucks, 1984-2019 ($120)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for used cars and trucks were 24.26% higher in 2019 versus 1984 (a $29.12 difference in value).

Between 1984 and 2019: Used cars and trucks experienced an average inflation rate of 0.62% per year. In other words, used cars and trucks costing $120 in the year 1984 would cost $149.12 in 2019 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.60% during this same period, inflation for used cars and trucks was lower.

Price Inflation for Used cars and trucks since 1984

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2010 (12.72%), 1995 (10.45%), and 1993 (8.71%).

Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Used cars and trucks:

Year	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
CPI	112.500	113.700	108.800	113.100	118.000	120.433	117.600	118.133	123.167	133.900	141.667	156.467	157.033	151.100	150.600	152.033	155.800	158.700	152.000	142.933	133.300	139.433	140.000	135.747	133.951	126.973	143.128	149.011	150.330	149.887	149.094	147.120	143.488	138.259	138.385	139.797

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Buying power of $120 since 1984

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Used cars and trucks, over time, for $120 beginning in 1984. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1984	$120.00	-
1985	$121.28	1.07%
1986	$116.05	-4.31%
1987	$120.64	3.95%
1988	$125.87	4.33%
1989	$128.46	2.06%
1990	$125.44	-2.35%
1991	$126.01	0.45%
1992	$131.38	4.26%
1993	$142.83	8.71%
1994	$151.11	5.80%
1995	$166.90	10.45%
1996	$167.50	0.36%
1997	$161.17	-3.78%
1998	$160.64	-0.33%
1999	$162.17	0.95%
2000	$166.19	2.48%
2001	$169.28	1.86%
2002	$162.13	-4.22%
2003	$152.46	-5.96%
2004	$142.19	-6.74%
2005	$148.73	4.60%
2006	$149.33	0.41%
2007	$144.80	-3.04%
2008	$142.88	-1.32%
2009	$135.44	-5.21%
2010	$152.67	12.72%
2011	$158.94	4.11%
2012	$160.35	0.89%
2013	$159.88	-0.30%
2014	$159.03	-0.53%
2015	$156.93	-1.32%
2016	$153.05	-2.47%
2017	$147.48	-3.64%
2018	$147.61	0.09%
2019	$149.12	1.02%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.

How to calculate the inflation rate for used cars and trucks, 1984-2019

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2019 / CPI in 1984 * 1984 USD value = 2019 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Used cars and trucks was 112.500 in the year 1984 and 139.797 in 2019:

139.797 / 112.500 * $120 = $149.12

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $120 in 1984 has the same "purchasing power" as $149.12 in 2019 (in the CPI category of Used cars and trucks).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Used cars and trucks in 1984. In addition to used cars and trucks, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.