$100 of used cars in 2000 costs $118.39 today. Over the 12 months to September 2026, used car prices fell 1.5%. Prices overall rose 96% since 2000.
Adjust any amount for inflation
Every year since 1964
- $100 of used cars in 1964
- All prices (CPI)
| Year | Change from the year before | $100 then costs now |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 2.8% | $99.71 |
| 2024 | -6.0% | $102.54 |
| 2023 | -7.1% | $96.43 |
| 2022 | 12.7% | $89.55 |
| 2021 | 26.6% | $100.97 |
| 2020 | 3.2% | $127.86 |
| 2019 | 1.0% | $131.93 |
| 2018 | 0.1% | $133.25 |
| 2017 | -3.6% | $133.37 |
| 2016 | -2.5% | $128.51 |
| 2015 | -1.3% | $125.34 |
| 2014 | -0.5% | $123.68 |
| 2013 | -0.3% | $123.02 |
| 2012 | 0.9% | $122.66 |
| 2011 | 4.1% | $123.75 |
| 2010 | 12.7% | $128.83 |
| 2009 | -5.2% | $145.22 |
| 2008 | -1.3% | $137.66 |
| 2007 | -3.0% | $135.84 |
| 2006 | 0.4% | $131.72 |
| 2005 | 4.6% | $132.24 |
| 2004 | -6.7% | $138.30 |
| 2003 | -6.0% | $129.02 |
| 2002 | -4.2% | $121.33 |
| 2001 | 1.9% | $116.19 |
| 2000 | 2.5% | $118.39 |
| 1999 | 0.9% | $121.29 |
| 1998 | -0.3% | $122.43 |
| 1997 | -3.8% | $122.01 |
| 1996 | 0.4% | $117.42 |
| 1995 | 10.4% | $117.86 |
| 1994 | 5.8% | $130.17 |
| 1993 | 8.7% | $137.73 |
| 1992 | 4.3% | $149.71 |
| 1991 | 0.5% | $156.10 |
| 1990 | -2.4% | $156.84 |
| 1989 | 2.1% | $153.11 |
| 1988 | 4.3% | $156.31 |
| 1987 | 4.0% | $163.05 |
| 1986 | -4.3% | $169.51 |
| 1985 | 1.1% | $162.17 |
| 1984 | 14.0% | $163.88 |
| 1983 | 11.2% | $186.78 |
| 1982 | 15.4% | $207.71 |
| 1981 | 23.4% | $239.73 |
| 1980 | 3.5% | $295.90 |
| 1979 | 7.8% | $306.26 |
| 1978 | 2.0% | $330.16 |
| 1977 | 8.9% | $336.84 |
| 1976 | 14.6% | $366.71 |
| 1975 | 19.5% | $420.44 |
| 1974 | 4.3% | $502.55 |
| 1973 | 6.5% | $523.97 |
| 1972 | 0.2% | $557.79 |
| 1971 | 5.7% | $558.64 |
| 1970 | 1.1% | $590.54 |
| 1969 | — | $597.23 |
| 1967 | 3.2% | $615.51 |
| 1966 | -2.5% | $635.12 |
| 1965 | -0.6% | $619.29 |
| 1964 | — | $615.68 |
Yearly averages of the monthly CPI-U index for this category; a year counts once BLS published at least 10 of its months. "$100 then costs now" compares each year's average with September 2026. No average for 1968: BLS published fewer than 10 months that year.
Against inflation
| Since | Used car prices | All prices |
|---|---|---|
| 2000 | up 18% | up 96% |
| 1964 | up 516% | up 986% |
Since 2000, used car prices lagged behind inflation; since 1964, used car prices lagged behind it.
Biggest yearly jumps
Against wages
Since 2000, used car prices rose 18% while average hourly pay rose 132%, so used car prices grew more slowly than pay.
What moved used car prices
Used cars rose 26.6% in 2021. BLS says a semiconductor shortage cut new-vehicle production, and the lack of new-vehicle inventory might have pushed would-be buyers into the used-car market; measured December to December, the index rose 37.3%, the largest such change in its history. In 1981 (+23.4%), BLS reported strong demand for used cars as an alternative to higher-priced new cars, while dealers were short of trade-ins. Prices fell 7.1% in 2023; by February 2024, Fed Governor Lisa Cook said auto production had recovered to pre-pandemic levels as supply bottlenecks eased. Over the year to September 2026 used cars were down 1.5%.
Reviewed October 17, 2026. Sources:
- BLS: data series CUUR0000SETA02
- BLS: Reports, "Consumer Expenditures in 2021"
- BLS: The Economics Daily, "Consumer Price Index: 2021 in review"
- BLS: Monthly Labor Review, "Price changes in 1981: widespread slowing of inflation" (April 1982)
- Federal Reserve Board: Speech by Governor Cook (February 22, 2024)
Sources
- BLS series CUUR0000SETA02: Used cars and trucks (U.S. city average, to September 2026)
- BLS Consumer Price Index, all items (CPI-U)
- BLS Consumer Price Index category indexes and average hourly earnings of production and nonsupervisory workers (CEU0500000008)
- How we use these figures: our methodology
General information, not financial advice.