Used cars and trucks priced at $1 in 1973 $1.25 in 1975

Used Cars And Trucks Inflation Calculator

$

Prices for Used Cars And Trucks, 1973-1975 ($1)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for used cars and trucks were 24.61% higher in 1975 versus 1973 (a $0.25 difference in value).

Between 1973 and 1975: Used cars and trucks experienced an average inflation rate of 11.63% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, used cars and trucks costing $1 in the year 1973 would cost $1.25 in 1975 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 10.09% during this same period, inflation for used cars and trucks was higher.

In the year 1973: Pricing changed by 6.44%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for used cars and trucks during the 1973-1975 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1973 (6.18%), inflation for used cars and trucks was higher.

Price Inflation for Used cars and trucks since 1952

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2021 (26.63%), 1981 (23.43%), and 1975 (19.52%).

View price changes for other categories
Jewelry · Phoenix, Arizona · San Diego, California · Admission to sporting events · More

Buying power of $1.00 since 1973

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Used cars and trucks, over time, for $1 beginning in 1973. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1973$1.006.44%
1974$1.044.26%
1975$1.2519.52%
1976$1.4314.66%
1977$1.568.86%
1978$1.592.02%
1979$1.717.81%
1980$1.773.50%
1981$2.1923.43%
1982$2.5215.42%
1983$2.8111.20%
1984$3.2013.97%
1985$3.231.06%
1986$3.09-4.33%
1987$3.213.96%
1988$3.354.31%
1989$3.422.09%
1990$3.34-2.38%
1991$3.360.47%
1992$3.504.27%
1993$3.808.70%
1994$4.035.81%
1995$4.4510.44%
1996$4.460.37%
1997$4.29-3.77%
1998$4.28-0.34%
1999$4.320.94%
2000$4.432.45%
2001$4.511.89%
2002$4.32-4.24%
2003$4.06-5.96%
2004$3.79-6.71%
2005$3.964.59%
2006$3.980.40%
2007$3.86-3.03%
2008$3.81-1.32%
2009$3.61-5.21%
2010$4.0712.72%
2011$4.234.11%
2012$4.270.89%
2013$4.26-0.29%
2014$4.24-0.53%
2015$4.18-1.32%
2016$4.08-2.47%
2017$3.93-3.64%
2018$3.930.09%
2019$3.971.00%
2020$4.103.19%
2021$5.1926.63%
2022$5.8512.75%
2023$5.43-7.13%
2024$5.12-5.82%*

* 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:

Year1952195319541955195619571958195919601961196219631964196519661967196819691970197119721973197419751976197719781979198019811982198319841985198619871988198919901991199219931994199519961997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI28.40026.73122.73821.47720.68523.15424.00826.80825.05426.01528.38528.73129.95429.77729.03129.95430.71730.87731.22333.00833.06235.19236.69243.85450.28554.73855.84660.20862.31576.91588.77798.723112.515113.708108.785113.092117.969120.431117.569118.123123.169133.885141.662156.454157.038151.123150.608152.031155.762158.700151.977142.915133.323139.438139.992135.747133.951126.973143.128149.011150.330149.887149.094147.120143.488138.259138.385139.763144.221182.628205.908191.222180.102

Adjust used cars and trucks prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 1975 / CPI in 1973 * 1973 USD value = 1975 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Used cars and trucks was 35.192 in the year 1973 and 43.854 in 1975:

43.854 / 35.192 * $1 = $1.25

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $1 in 1973 has the same "purchasing power" as $1.25 in 1975 (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 1952. 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.

» Read more about inflation and investment.