According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for public transportation are 3,060.02% higher in 2026 versus 1943 (a $153 difference in value).
Between 1943 and 2026, Public transport experienced an average inflation rate of 4.25% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, public transport costing $5 in the year 1943 would cost $158 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.62% during this same period, inflation for public transport was higher.
In the year 1943: Pricing changed by 0.45%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for public transport during the 1943-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1943 (5.97%), inflation for public transport was much lower.
The official rate is based on an average household's spending, so your own inflation rate is probably different. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Public transport, over time, for $5 beginning in 1943. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1943 | $5.00 | 0.45% |
| 1944 | $5.00 | 0.00% ** |
| 1945 | $5.00 | 0.00% ** |
| 1946 | $5.13 | 2.54% |
| 1947 | $5.36 | 4.59% |
| 1948 | $6.07 | 13.26% |
| 1949 | $6.75 | 11.11% |
| 1950 | $7.28 | 7.92% |
| 1951 | $8.05 | 10.57% |
| 1952 | $8.58 | 6.52% |
| 1953 | $9.15 | 6.65% |
| 1954 | $9.76 | 6.73% |
| 1955 | $10.03 | 2.74% |
| 1956 | $10.43 | 4.02% |
| 1957 | $10.83 | 3.82% |
| 1958 | $11.35 | 4.72% |
| 1959 | $11.68 | 2.95% |
| 1960 | $12.08 | 3.41% |
| 1961 | $12.61 | 4.42% |
| 1962 | $13.03 | 3.27% |
| 1963 | $13.18 | 1.22% |
| 1964 | $13.43 | 1.86% |
| 1965 | $13.70 | 2.06% |
| 1966 | $14.19 | 3.54% |
| 1967 | $14.91 | 5.08% |
| 1968 | $15.61 | 4.68% |
| 1969 | $16.80 | 7.66% |
| 1970 | $19.14 | 13.94% |
| 1971 | $20.52 | 7.17% |
| 1972 | $21.37 | 4.15% |
| 1973 | $21.58 | 1.00% |
| 1974 | $22.07 | 2.25% |
| 1975 | $23.64 | 7.14% |
| 1976 | $25.96 | 9.83% |
| 1977 | $27.19 | 4.73% |
| 1978 | $28.00 | 2.96% |
| 1979 | $29.86 | 6.66% |
| 1980 | $37.50 | 25.58% |
| 1981 | $46.51 | 24.02% |
| 1982 | $51.57 | 10.88% |
| 1983 | $54.05 | 4.80% |
| 1984 | $57.42 | 6.23% |
| 1985 | $60.04 | 4.57% |
| 1986 | $63.56 | 5.86% |
| 1987 | $65.80 | 3.53% |
| 1988 | $67.00 | 1.82% |
| 1989 | $70.39 | 5.06% |
| 1990 | $77.51 | 10.12% |
| 1991 | $80.94 | 4.42% |
| 1992 | $82.26 | 1.63% |
| 1993 | $90.76 | 10.32% |
| 1994 | $93.46 | 2.97% |
| 1995 | $95.59 | 2.28% |
| 1996 | $98.85 | 3.42% |
| 1997 | $101.48 | 2.66% |
| 1998 | $103.45 | 1.94% |
| 1999 | $107.44 | 3.86% |
| 2000 | $113.89 | 6.01% |
| 2001 | $114.48 | 0.52% |
| 2002 | $112.69 | -1.56% |
| 2003 | $113.75 | 0.94% |
| 2004 | $113.62 | -0.12% |
| 2005 | $118.07 | 3.92% |
| 2006 | $123.14 | 4.29% |
| 2007 | $125.00 | 1.51% |
| 2008 | $136.17 | 8.93% |
| 2009 | $128.45 | -5.67% |
| 2010 | $136.60 | 6.35% |
| 2011 | $146.41 | 7.18% |
| 2012 | $147.47 | 0.72% |
| 2013 | $151.55 | 2.76% |
| 2014 | $150.21 | -0.88% |
| 2015 | $146.05 | -2.77% |
| 2016 | $144.24 | -1.24% |
| 2017 | $143.00 | -0.86% |
| 2018 | $140.64 | -1.65% |
| 2019 | $141.01 | 0.27% |
| 2020 | $123.62 | -12.34% |
| 2021 | $125.66 | 1.65% |
| 2022 | $150.71 | 19.94% |
| 2023 | $145.45 | -3.49% |
| 2024 | $142.77 | -1.84% |
| 2025 | $140.65 | -1.49% |
| 2026 | $158.00 | 12.34%* |
* 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 Public transportation:
| Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 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 | 9.100 | 9.000 | 8.908 | 9.033 | 9.100 | 9.100 | 9.100 | 9.158 | 9.200 | 9.200 | 9.200 | 9.433 | 9.867 | 11.175 | 12.417 | 13.400 | 14.817 | 15.783 | 16.833 | 17.967 | 18.458 | 19.200 | 19.933 | 20.875 | 21.492 | 22.225 | 23.208 | 23.967 | 24.258 | 24.708 | 25.217 | 26.108 | 27.433 | 28.717 | 30.917 | 35.225 | 37.750 | 39.317 | 39.708 | 40.600 | 43.500 | 47.775 | 50.033 | 51.517 | 54.950 | 69.008 | 85.583 | 94.892 | 99.450 | 105.650 | 110.475 | 116.950 | 121.075 | 123.283 | 129.517 | 142.625 | 148.933 | 151.367 | 166.992 | 171.958 | 175.883 | 181.892 | 186.725 | 190.342 | 197.683 | 209.558 | 210.642 | 207.350 | 209.300 | 209.058 | 217.250 | 226.575 | 230.002 | 250.549 | 236.348 | 251.351 | 269.403 | 271.351 | 278.851 | 276.394 | 268.725 | 265.397 | 263.116 | 258.771 | 259.463 | 227.453 | 231.209 | 277.304 | 267.634 | 262.706 | 258.793 | 290.722 |