Public transportation inflation
Public transportation prices since 2000
Up 40%
An average of 1.30% a year, compared with 95% for all U.S. prices (overall CPI). $100 of 2000 public transportation costs $140.28 in August 2026.
Last 12 months (to August 2026)
15.4%
All U.S. prices, same period
3.4%
Data since
1935
How much public transportation prices have risen
| Since | Public transportation | All U.S. prices | $100 then costs now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +2,094% | +1,290% | $2,194.25 |
| 1970 | +735% | +763% | $835.31 |
| 1980 | +326% | +307% | $426.13 |
| 1990 | +106% | +156% | $206.19 |
| 2000 | +40% | +95% | $140.28 |
| 2010 | +17% | +54% | $116.98 |
| 2020 | +29% | +29% | $129.27 |
Calculate public transportation inflation
Inflation rate by year
Every year since 1935
| Year | Index | Change | $1 then costs now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 258.8 | -1.5% | $1.14 |
| 2024 | 262.7 | -1.8% | $1.12 |
| 2023 | 267.6 | -3.5% | $1.10 |
| 2022 | 277.3 | 19.9% | $1.06 |
| 2021 | 231.2 | 1.7% | $1.27 |
| 2020 | 227.5 | -12.3% | $1.29 |
| 2019 | 259.5 | 0.3% | $1.13 |
| 2018 | 258.8 | -1.7% | $1.14 |
| 2017 | 263.1 | -0.9% | $1.12 |
| 2016 | 265.4 | -1.2% | $1.11 |
| 2015 | 268.7 | -2.8% | $1.09 |
| 2014 | 276.4 | -0.9% | $1.06 |
| 2013 | 278.9 | 2.8% | $1.05 |
| 2012 | 271.4 | 0.7% | $1.08 |
| 2011 | 269.4 | 7.2% | $1.09 |
| 2010 | 251.4 | 6.3% | $1.17 |
| 2009 | 236.3 | -5.7% | $1.24 |
| 2008 | 250.5 | 8.9% | $1.17 |
| 2007 | 230.0 | 1.5% | $1.28 |
| 2006 | 226.6 | 4.3% | $1.30 |
| 2005 | 217.3 | 3.9% | $1.35 |
| 2004 | 209.1 | -0.1% | $1.41 |
| 2003 | 209.3 | 0.9% | $1.40 |
| 2002 | 207.4 | -1.5% | $1.42 |
| 2001 | 210.6 | 0.5% | $1.40 |
| 2000 | 209.6 | 6.0% | $1.40 |
| 1999 | 197.7 | 3.9% | $1.49 |
| 1998 | 190.3 | 1.9% | $1.55 |
| 1997 | 186.7 | 2.6% | $1.57 |
| 1996 | 181.9 | 3.4% | $1.62 |
| 1995 | 175.9 | 2.3% | $1.67 |
| 1994 | 172.0 | 3.0% | $1.71 |
| 1993 | 167.0 | 10.3% | $1.76 |
| 1992 | 151.4 | 1.7% | $1.94 |
| 1991 | 148.9 | 4.4% | $1.97 |
| 1990 | 142.6 | 10.1% | $2.06 |
| 1989 | 129.5 | 5.0% | $2.27 |
| 1988 | 123.3 | 1.8% | $2.38 |
| 1987 | 121.1 | 3.5% | $2.43 |
| 1986 | 117.0 | 5.9% | $2.51 |
| 1985 | 110.5 | 4.5% | $2.66 |
| 1984 | 105.7 | 6.2% | $2.78 |
| 1983 | 99.5 | 4.8% | $2.96 |
| 1982 | 94.9 | 10.9% | $3.10 |
| 1981 | 85.6 | 24.1% | $3.43 |
| 1980 | 69.0 | 25.7% | $4.26 |
| 1979 | 54.9 | 6.6% | $5.36 |
| 1978 | 51.5 | 3.0% | $5.71 |
| 1977 | 50.0 | 4.6% | $5.88 |
| 1976 | 47.8 | 9.9% | $6.15 |
| 1975 | 43.5 | 7.1% | $6.76 |
| 1974 | 40.6 | 2.3% | $7.24 |
| 1973 | 39.7 | 1.0% | $7.41 |
| 1972 | 39.3 | 4.0% | $7.48 |
| 1971 | 37.8 | 7.4% | $7.78 |
| 1970 | 35.2 | 13.9% | $8.35 |
| 1969 | 30.9 | 7.7% | $9.52 |
| 1968 | 28.7 | 4.7% | $10.24 |
| 1967 | 27.4 | 5.0% | $10.73 |
| 1966 | 26.1 | 3.6% | $11.27 |
| 1965 | 25.2 | 2.0% | $11.67 |
| 1964 | 24.7 | 1.6% | $11.90 |
| 1963 | 24.3 | 1.2% | $12.10 |
| 1962 | 24.0 | 3.4% | $12.25 |
| 1961 | 23.2 | 4.5% | $12.67 |
| 1960 | 22.2 | 3.3% | $13.24 |
| 1959 | 21.5 | 2.9% | $13.68 |
| 1958 | 20.9 | 5.0% | $14.07 |
| 1957 | 19.9 | 3.6% | $14.78 |
| 1956 | 19.2 | 3.8% | $15.31 |
| 1955 | 18.5 | 2.8% | $15.89 |
| 1954 | 18.0 | 7.1% | $16.33 |
| 1953 | 16.8 | 6.3% | $17.50 |
| 1952 | 15.8 | 6.8% | $18.61 |
| 1951 | 14.8 | 10.4% | $19.87 |
| 1950 | 13.4 | 8.1% | $21.94 |
| 1949 | 12.4 | 10.7% | $23.71 |
| 1948 | 11.2 | 13.1% | $26.25 |
| 1947 | 9.9 | 5.3% | $29.70 |
| 1946 | 9.4 | 2.2% | $31.28 |
| 1945 | 9.2 | 0.0% | $31.96 |
| 1944 | 9.2 | 0.0% | $31.96 |
| 1943 | 9.2 | 1.1% | $31.96 |
| 1942 | 9.1 | 0.0% | $32.31 |
| 1941 | 9.1 | 0.0% | $32.31 |
| 1940 | 9.1 | 0.0% | $32.31 |
| 1939 | 9.1 | 1.1% | $32.31 |
| 1938 | 9.0 | 1.1% | $32.67 |
| 1937 | 8.9 | -1.1% | $33.04 |
| 1936 | 9.0 | -1.1% | $32.67 |
| 1935 | 9.1 | $32.31 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U series CUUR0000SETG, not seasonally adjusted. Index values are relative (only the changes matter), so they can't be compared across categories.
Questions
- How much have public transportation prices gone up since 2000?
- Public transportation prices rose 40% from 2000 to August 2026, slower than overall prices (95%).
- What is the inflation rate for public transportation right now?
- Public transportation prices were 15.4% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier.
- What did $100 of public transportation in 2000 cost in August 2026?
- $140.28.
- Where does this data come from?
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics price index for public transportation (series CUUR0000SETG), 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.