According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for used cars and trucks are 556.22% higher in 2026 versus 1952 (a $111.24 difference in value).
Between 1952 and 2026: 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 1952 would cost $131.24 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.44% during this same period, inflation for used cars and trucks was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Used cars and trucks, over time, for $20 beginning in 1952. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1952 | $20.00 | - |
| 1953 | $18.83 | -5.87% |
| 1954 | $16.02 | -14.93% |
| 1955 | $15.12 | -5.57% |
| 1956 | $14.57 | -3.69% |
| 1957 | $16.30 | 11.93% |
| 1958 | $16.91 | 3.71% |
| 1959 | $18.88 | 11.66% |
| 1960 | $17.65 | -6.53% |
| 1961 | $18.32 | 3.82% |
| 1962 | $19.99 | 9.10% |
| 1963 | $20.23 | 1.23% |
| 1964 | $21.09 | 4.23% |
| 1965 | $20.97 | -0.58% |
| 1966 | $20.45 | -2.49% |
| 1967 | $21.10 | 3.19% |
| 1968 | $21.76 | 3.14% |
| 1969 | $21.74 | -0.08% |
| 1970 | $21.99 | 1.13% |
| 1971 | $23.25 | 5.71% |
| 1972 | $23.28 | 0.15% |
| 1973 | $24.78 | 6.45% |
| 1974 | $25.84 | 4.26% |
| 1975 | $30.89 | 19.53% |
| 1976 | $35.41 | 14.65% |
| 1977 | $38.55 | 8.87% |
| 1978 | $39.33 | 2.02% |
| 1979 | $42.40 | 7.80% |
| 1980 | $43.88 | 3.50% |
| 1981 | $54.17 | 23.43% |
| 1982 | $62.52 | 15.42% |
| 1983 | $69.52 | 11.21% |
| 1984 | $79.24 | 13.97% |
| 1985 | $80.08 | 1.06% |
| 1986 | $76.61 | -4.33% |
| 1987 | $79.64 | 3.96% |
| 1988 | $83.08 | 4.31% |
| 1989 | $84.81 | 2.09% |
| 1990 | $82.79 | -2.38% |
| 1991 | $83.19 | 0.47% |
| 1992 | $86.74 | 4.27% |
| 1993 | $94.28 | 8.70% |
| 1994 | $99.76 | 5.81% |
| 1995 | $110.18 | 10.44% |
| 1996 | $110.59 | 0.38% |
| 1997 | $106.43 | -3.77% |
| 1998 | $106.06 | -0.34% |
| 1999 | $107.07 | 0.95% |
| 2000 | $109.69 | 2.45% |
| 2001 | $111.76 | 1.89% |
| 2002 | $107.02 | -4.24% |
| 2003 | $100.65 | -5.96% |
| 2004 | $93.89 | -6.71% |
| 2005 | $98.20 | 4.59% |
| 2006 | $98.59 | 0.39% |
| 2007 | $95.60 | -3.03% |
| 2008 | $94.33 | -1.32% |
| 2009 | $89.42 | -5.21% |
| 2010 | $100.79 | 12.72% |
| 2011 | $104.94 | 4.11% |
| 2012 | $105.87 | 0.89% |
| 2013 | $105.55 | -0.29% |
| 2014 | $105.00 | -0.53% |
| 2015 | $103.61 | -1.32% |
| 2016 | $101.05 | -2.47% |
| 2017 | $97.37 | -3.64% |
| 2018 | $97.45 | 0.09% |
| 2019 | $98.42 | 1.00% |
| 2020 | $101.56 | 3.19% |
| 2021 | $128.61 | 26.63% |
| 2022 | $145.01 | 12.75% |
| 2023 | $134.66 | -7.13% |
| 2024 | $126.64 | -5.96% |
| 2025 | $130.34 | 2.92% |
| 2026 | $131.24 | 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 |