According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for used cars and trucks are 221.88% higher in 2024 versus 1978 (a $44.38 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2024: Used cars and trucks experienced an average inflation rate of 2.57% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, used cars and trucks costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $64.38 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for used cars and trucks was lower.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 2.02%, which is below the average yearly change for used cars and trucks during the 1978-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), 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 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | 2.02% |
| 1979 | $21.56 | 7.81% |
| 1980 | $22.32 | 3.50% |
| 1981 | $27.55 | 23.43% |
| 1982 | $31.79 | 15.42% |
| 1983 | $35.36 | 11.20% |
| 1984 | $40.29 | 13.97% |
| 1985 | $40.72 | 1.06% |
| 1986 | $38.96 | -4.33% |
| 1987 | $40.50 | 3.96% |
| 1988 | $42.25 | 4.31% |
| 1989 | $43.13 | 2.09% |
| 1990 | $42.10 | -2.38% |
| 1991 | $42.30 | 0.47% |
| 1992 | $44.11 | 4.27% |
| 1993 | $47.95 | 8.70% |
| 1994 | $50.73 | 5.81% |
| 1995 | $56.03 | 10.44% |
| 1996 | $56.24 | 0.37% |
| 1997 | $54.12 | -3.77% |
| 1998 | $53.94 | -0.34% |
| 1999 | $54.45 | 0.94% |
| 2000 | $55.78 | 2.45% |
| 2001 | $56.83 | 1.89% |
| 2002 | $54.43 | -4.24% |
| 2003 | $51.18 | -5.96% |
| 2004 | $47.75 | -6.71% |
| 2005 | $49.94 | 4.59% |
| 2006 | $50.13 | 0.40% |
| 2007 | $48.61 | -3.03% |
| 2008 | $47.97 | -1.32% |
| 2009 | $45.47 | -5.21% |
| 2010 | $51.26 | 12.72% |
| 2011 | $53.36 | 4.11% |
| 2012 | $53.84 | 0.89% |
| 2013 | $53.68 | -0.29% |
| 2014 | $53.39 | -0.53% |
| 2015 | $52.69 | -1.32% |
| 2016 | $51.39 | -2.47% |
| 2017 | $49.51 | -3.64% |
| 2018 | $49.56 | 0.09% |
| 2019 | $50.05 | 1.00% |
| 2020 | $51.65 | 3.19% |
| 2021 | $65.40 | 26.63% |
| 2022 | $73.74 | 12.75% |
| 2023 | $68.48 | -7.13% |
| 2024 | $64.38 | -5.99%* |
* 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 |
| 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 | 179.760 |