According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for used cars and trucks were 514.65% higher in 2019 versus 1954 (a $8,234.48 difference in value).
Between 1954 and 2019: Used cars and trucks experienced an average inflation rate of 2.83% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, used cars and trucks costing $1,600 in the year 1954 would cost $9,834.48 in 2019 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.53% during this same period, inflation for used cars and trucks was lower.
In the year 1954: Pricing changed by -14.94%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for used cars and trucks during the 1954-2019 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1954 (0.34%), inflation for used cars and trucks was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Used cars and trucks, over time, for $1,600 beginning in 1954. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1954 | $1,600.00 | -14.94% |
| 1955 | $1,511.23 | -5.55% |
| 1956 | $1,455.48 | -3.69% |
| 1957 | $1,629.23 | 11.94% |
| 1958 | $1,689.31 | 3.69% |
| 1959 | $1,886.33 | 11.66% |
| 1960 | $1,762.92 | -6.54% |
| 1961 | $1,830.58 | 3.84% |
| 1962 | $1,997.29 | 9.11% |
| 1963 | $2,021.65 | 1.22% |
| 1964 | $2,107.71 | 4.26% |
| 1965 | $2,095.26 | -0.59% |
| 1966 | $2,042.76 | -2.51% |
| 1967 | $2,107.71 | 3.18% |
| 1968 | $2,161.39 | 2.55% |
| 1969 | $2,172.67 | 0.52% |
| 1970 | $2,197.02 | 1.12% |
| 1971 | $2,322.60 | 5.72% |
| 1972 | $2,326.39 | 0.16% |
| 1973 | $2,476.32 | 6.44% |
| 1974 | $2,581.87 | 4.26% |
| 1975 | $3,085.79 | 19.52% |
| 1976 | $3,538.29 | 14.66% |
| 1977 | $3,851.69 | 8.86% |
| 1978 | $3,929.63 | 2.02% |
| 1979 | $4,236.54 | 7.81% |
| 1980 | $4,384.84 | 3.50% |
| 1981 | $5,412.18 | 23.43% |
| 1982 | $6,246.82 | 15.42% |
| 1983 | $6,946.68 | 11.20% |
| 1984 | $7,917.19 | 13.97% |
| 1985 | $8,001.08 | 1.06% |
| 1986 | $7,654.67 | -4.33% |
| 1987 | $7,957.78 | 3.96% |
| 1988 | $8,300.95 | 4.31% |
| 1989 | $8,474.15 | 2.09% |
| 1990 | $8,272.80 | -2.38% |
| 1991 | $8,311.77 | 0.47% |
| 1992 | $8,666.85 | 4.27% |
| 1993 | $9,420.84 | 8.70% |
| 1994 | $9,968.06 | 5.81% |
| 1995 | $11,008.93 | 10.44% |
| 1996 | $11,050.07 | 0.37% |
| 1997 | $10,633.83 | -3.77% |
| 1998 | $10,597.56 | -0.34% |
| 1999 | $10,697.70 | 0.94% |
| 2000 | $10,960.22 | 2.45% |
| 2001 | $11,166.98 | 1.89% |
| 2002 | $10,693.91 | -4.24% |
| 2003 | $10,056.29 | -5.96% |
| 2004 | $9,381.33 | -6.71% |
| 2005 | $9,811.64 | 4.59% |
| 2006 | $9,850.61 | 0.40% |
| 2007 | $9,551.86 | -3.03% |
| 2008 | $9,425.52 | -1.32% |
| 2009 | $8,934.48 | -5.21% |
| 2010 | $10,071.26 | 12.72% |
| 2011 | $10,485.18 | 4.11% |
| 2012 | $10,578.04 | 0.89% |
| 2013 | $10,546.84 | -0.29% |
| 2014 | $10,491.04 | -0.53% |
| 2015 | $10,352.12 | -1.32% |
| 2016 | $10,096.61 | -2.47% |
| 2017 | $9,728.64 | -3.64% |
| 2018 | $9,737.51 | 0.09% |
| 2019 | $9,834.48 | 1.00% |
| 2020 | $10,148.18 | 3.19% |
| 2021 | $12,850.71 | 26.63% |
| 2022 | $14,488.80 | 12.75% |
| 2023 | $13,455.41 | -7.13% |
| 2024 | $12,653.30 | -5.96% |
| 2025 | $12,977.63 | 2.56%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 28.400 | 26.731 | 22.738 | 21.477 | 20.685 | 23.154 | 24.008 | 26.808 | 25.054 | 26.015 | 28.385 | 28.731 | 29.954 | 29.777 | 29.031 | 29.954 | 30.717 | 30.877 | 31.223 | 33.008 | 33.062 | 35.192 | 36.692 | 43.854 | 50.285 | 54.738 | 55.846 | 60.208 | 62.315 | 76.915 | 88.777 | 98.723 | 112.515 | 113.708 | 108.785 | 113.092 | 117.969 | 120.431 | 117.569 | 118.123 | 123.169 | 133.885 | 141.662 | 156.454 | 157.038 | 151.123 | 150.608 | 152.031 | 155.762 | 158.700 | 151.977 | 142.915 | 133.323 | 139.438 | 139.992 | 135.747 | 133.951 | 126.973 | 143.128 | 149.011 | 150.330 | 149.887 | 149.094 | 147.120 | 143.488 | 138.259 | 138.385 | 139.763 | 144.221 | 182.628 | 205.908 | 191.222 | 179.823 | 184.432 |