New cars inflation
New cars prices since 2000
Up 26%
An average of 0.88% a year, compared with 95% for all U.S. prices (overall CPI). $100 of 2000 new cars costs $125.85 in August 2026.
Last 12 months (to August 2026)
0.6%
All U.S. prices, same period
3.4%
Data since
1935
How much new cars prices have risen
| Since | New cars | All U.S. prices | $100 then costs now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +336% | +1,290% | $436.20 |
| 1970 | +238% | +763% | $338.45 |
| 1980 | +103% | +307% | $203.07 |
| 1990 | +48% | +156% | $148.04 |
| 2000 | +26% | +95% | $125.85 |
| 2010 | +30% | +54% | $130.22 |
| 2020 | +22% | +29% | $121.76 |
Calculate new cars inflation
Inflation rate by year
Every year since 1935
| Year | Index | Change | $1 then costs now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 178.5 | 0.3% | $1.01 |
| 2024 | 177.9 | -0.6% | $1.01 |
| 2023 | 178.9 | 3.7% | $1.00 |
| 2022 | 172.5 | 10.4% | $1.04 |
| 2021 | 156.2 | 5.9% | $1.15 |
| 2020 | 147.6 | 0.5% | $1.22 |
| 2019 | 146.8 | 0.4% | $1.22 |
| 2018 | 146.3 | -0.5% | $1.23 |
| 2017 | 147.0 | -0.2% | $1.22 |
| 2016 | 147.4 | 0.2% | $1.22 |
| 2015 | 147.1 | 0.6% | $1.22 |
| 2014 | 146.3 | 0.3% | $1.23 |
| 2013 | 145.8 | 1.1% | $1.23 |
| 2012 | 144.2 | 1.7% | $1.25 |
| 2011 | 141.9 | 2.8% | $1.27 |
| 2010 | 138.0 | 1.8% | $1.30 |
| 2009 | 135.6 | 1.1% | $1.33 |
| 2008 | 134.2 | -1.5% | $1.34 |
| 2007 | 136.3 | -1.0% | $1.32 |
| 2006 | 137.6 | -0.2% | $1.31 |
| 2005 | 137.9 | 0.6% | $1.30 |
| 2004 | 137.1 | -0.6% | $1.31 |
| 2003 | 137.9 | -1.5% | $1.30 |
| 2002 | 140.0 | -1.5% | $1.28 |
| 2001 | 142.1 | -0.5% | $1.26 |
| 2000 | 142.8 | -0.1% | $1.26 |
| 1999 | 142.9 | -0.3% | $1.26 |
| 1998 | 143.4 | -0.6% | $1.25 |
| 1997 | 144.3 | 0.4% | $1.25 |
| 1996 | 143.7 | 1.9% | $1.25 |
| 1995 | 141.0 | 2.5% | $1.27 |
| 1994 | 137.6 | 3.7% | $1.31 |
| 1993 | 132.7 | 2.7% | $1.35 |
| 1992 | 129.2 | 2.5% | $1.39 |
| 1991 | 126.0 | 3.8% | $1.43 |
| 1990 | 121.4 | 1.8% | $1.48 |
| 1989 | 119.2 | 2.3% | $1.51 |
| 1988 | 116.5 | 1.8% | $1.54 |
| 1987 | 114.4 | 3.4% | $1.57 |
| 1986 | 110.6 | 4.2% | $1.62 |
| 1985 | 106.1 | 3.4% | $1.69 |
| 1984 | 102.6 | 2.7% | $1.75 |
| 1983 | 99.9 | 2.5% | $1.80 |
| 1982 | 97.5 | 3.8% | $1.84 |
| 1981 | 93.9 | 6.1% | $1.91 |
| 1980 | 88.5 | 8.1% | $2.03 |
| 1979 | 81.9 | 7.9% | $2.19 |
| 1978 | 75.9 | 7.7% | $2.37 |
| 1977 | 70.5 | 5.2% | $2.55 |
| 1976 | 67.0 | 6.3% | $2.68 |
| 1975 | 63.0 | 8.6% | $2.85 |
| 1974 | 58.0 | 5.8% | $3.10 |
| 1973 | 54.8 | 0.0% | $3.28 |
| 1972 | 54.8 | -0.9% | $3.28 |
| 1971 | 55.3 | 4.1% | $3.25 |
| 1970 | 53.1 | 3.1% | $3.38 |
| 1969 | 51.5 | 1.6% | $3.49 |
| 1968 | 50.7 | 2.8% | $3.54 |
| 1967 | 49.3 | 0.8% | $3.65 |
| 1966 | 48.9 | -1.8% | $3.68 |
| 1965 | 49.8 | -2.2% | $3.61 |
| 1964 | 50.9 | -0.4% | $3.53 |
| 1963 | 51.1 | -0.6% | $3.52 |
| 1962 | 51.4 | -0.4% | $3.50 |
| 1961 | 51.6 | 0.0% | $3.48 |
| 1960 | 51.6 | -1.3% | $3.48 |
| 1959 | 52.3 | 4.4% | $3.44 |
| 1958 | 50.1 | 3.1% | $3.59 |
| 1957 | 48.6 | 5.4% | $3.70 |
| 1956 | 46.1 | 2.7% | $3.90 |
| 1955 | 44.9 | -3.4% | $4.00 |
| 1954 | 46.5 | -1.7% | $3.86 |
| 1953 | 47.3 | 1.1% | $3.80 |
| 1952 | 46.8 | 8.6% | $3.84 |
| 1951 | 43.1 | 4.6% | $4.17 |
| 1950 | 41.2 | 0.7% | $4.36 |
| 1949 | 40.9 | 9.7% | $4.39 |
| 1948 | 37.3 | 9.4% | $4.82 |
| 1947 | 34.1 | $5.27 | |
| 1941 | 23.0 | 7.5% | $7.81 |
| 1940 | 21.4 | 0.5% | $8.40 |
| 1939 | 21.3 | -2.3% | $8.44 |
| 1938 | 21.8 | 4.8% | $8.24 |
| 1937 | 20.8 | 2.0% | $8.64 |
| 1936 | 20.4 | 0.5% | $8.81 |
| 1935 | 20.3 | $8.85 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U series CUUR0000SETA01, not seasonally adjusted. Index values are relative (only the changes matter), so they can't be compared across categories.
Questions
- How much have new cars prices gone up since 2000?
- New cars prices rose 26% from 2000 to August 2026, slower than overall prices (95%).
- What is the inflation rate for new cars right now?
- New cars prices were 0.6% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier.
- What did $100 of new cars in 2000 cost in August 2026?
- $125.85.
- Where does this data come from?
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics price index for new cars (series CUUR0000SETA01), part of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. It tracks price changes for the same kind of item over time, not average prices.