According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for used cars and trucks are 597.13% higher in 2026 versus 1953 (a $119.43 difference in value).
Between 1953 and 2026:Used cars and trucks experienced an average inflation rate of 2.70% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, used cars and trucks costing $20 in the year 1953 would cost $139.43 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.48% during this same period, inflation for used cars and trucks was lower.
In the year 1953: Pricing changed by -5.87%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for used cars and trucks during the 1953-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1953 (0.82%), inflation for used cars and trucks was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Used cars and trucks, over time, for $20 beginning in 1953. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1953 | $20.00 | -5.87% |
| 1954 | $17.01 | -14.93% |
| 1955 | $16.07 | -5.57% |
| 1956 | $15.47 | -3.69% |
| 1957 | $17.32 | 11.93% |
| 1958 | $17.96 | 3.71% |
| 1959 | $20.06 | 11.66% |
| 1960 | $18.75 | -6.53% |
| 1961 | $19.46 | 3.82% |
| 1962 | $21.23 | 9.10% |
| 1963 | $21.50 | 1.23% |
| 1964 | $22.41 | 4.23% |
| 1965 | $22.28 | -0.58% |
| 1966 | $21.72 | -2.49% |
| 1967 | $22.41 | 3.19% |
| 1968 | $23.12 | 3.14% |
| 1969 | $23.10 | -0.08% |
| 1970 | $23.36 | 1.13% |
| 1971 | $24.69 | 5.71% |
| 1972 | $24.73 | 0.15% |
| 1973 | $26.33 | 6.45% |
| 1974 | $27.45 | 4.26% |
| 1975 | $32.81 | 19.53% |
| 1976 | $37.62 | 14.65% |
| 1977 | $40.95 | 8.87% |
| 1978 | $41.78 | 2.02% |
| 1979 | $45.04 | 7.80% |
| 1980 | $46.62 | 3.50% |
| 1981 | $57.54 | 23.43% |
| 1982 | $66.42 | 15.42% |
| 1983 | $73.86 | 11.21% |
| 1984 | $84.18 | 13.97% |
| 1985 | $85.07 | 1.06% |
| 1986 | $81.38 | -4.33% |
| 1987 | $84.61 | 3.96% |
| 1988 | $88.25 | 4.31% |
| 1989 | $90.10 | 2.09% |
| 1990 | $87.96 | -2.38% |
| 1991 | $88.37 | 0.47% |
| 1992 | $92.14 | 4.27% |
| 1993 | $100.16 | 8.70% |
| 1994 | $105.98 | 5.81% |
| 1995 | $117.04 | 10.44% |
| 1996 | $117.49 | 0.38% |
| 1997 | $113.06 | -3.77% |
| 1998 | $112.67 | -0.34% |
| 1999 | $113.74 | 0.95% |
| 2000 | $116.53 | 2.45% |
| 2001 | $118.73 | 1.89% |
| 2002 | $113.70 | -4.24% |
| 2003 | $106.92 | -5.96% |
| 2004 | $99.74 | -6.71% |
| 2005 | $104.32 | 4.59% |
| 2006 | $104.73 | 0.39% |
| 2007 | $101.56 | -3.03% |
| 2008 | $100.21 | -1.32% |
| 2009 | $94.99 | -5.21% |
| 2010 | $107.08 | 12.72% |
| 2011 | $111.48 | 4.11% |
| 2012 | $112.47 | 0.89% |
| 2013 | $112.13 | -0.29% |
| 2014 | $111.54 | -0.53% |
| 2015 | $110.06 | -1.32% |
| 2016 | $107.35 | -2.47% |
| 2017 | $103.44 | -3.64% |
| 2018 | $103.53 | 0.09% |
| 2019 | $104.56 | 1.00% |
| 2020 | $107.90 | 3.19% |
| 2021 | $136.63 | 26.63% |
| 2022 | $154.05 | 12.75% |
| 2023 | $143.06 | -7.13% |
| 2024 | $134.53 | -5.96% |
| 2025 | $138.47 | 2.92% |
| 2026 | $139.43 | 0.69%* |
* 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 Used cars and trucks:
| Year | 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 | 28.400 | 26.733 | 22.742 | 21.475 | 20.683 | 23.150 | 24.008 | 26.808 | 25.058 | 26.017 | 28.383 | 28.733 | 29.950 | 29.775 | 29.033 | 29.958 | 30.900 | 30.875 | 31.225 | 33.008 | 33.058 | 35.192 | 36.692 | 43.858 | 50.283 | 54.742 | 55.850 | 60.208 | 62.317 | 76.917 | 88.775 | 98.725 | 112.517 | 113.708 | 108.783 | 113.092 | 117.967 | 120.433 | 117.567 | 118.125 | 123.167 | 133.883 | 141.658 | 156.450 | 157.042 | 151.125 | 150.608 | 152.033 | 155.758 | 158.700 | 151.975 | 142.917 | 133.325 | 139.442 | 139.992 | 135.747 | 133.951 | 126.973 | 143.128 | 149.011 | 150.330 | 149.887 | 149.094 | 147.119 | 143.488 | 138.259 | 138.385 | 139.763 | 144.221 | 182.628 | 205.908 | 191.222 | 179.823 | 185.082 | 186.367 |