Average Price of a New Car, 1970–2006
In current dollars, import cars, on average, were less expensive than domestic cars until 1982. Since then, import prices have tripled, while domestic prices have doubled (current dollars).
| Domestic (a) ----------------- |
Import ----------------- |
Total ------------------ |
||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Current dollars |
Constant 2006 dollars (b) |
Current dollars |
Constant 2006 dollars (b) |
Current dollars |
Constant 2006 dollars (b) |
| 1970 | 3,708 | 19,266 | 2,648 | 13,759 | 3,542 | 18,404 |
| 1975 | 5,084 | 19,051 | 4,384 | 16,428 | 4,950 | 18,549 |
| 1980 | 7,609 | 18,616 | 7,482 | 18,305 | 7,574 | 18,531 |
| 1981 | 8,912 | 19,765 | 8,896 | 19,730 | 8,910 | 19,761 |
| 1982 | 9,865 | 20,609 | 9,957 | 20,801 | 9,890 | 20,661 |
| 1983 | 10,516 | 21,285 | 10,868 | 21,998 | 10,606 | 21,468 |
| 1984 | 11,079 | 21,497 | 12,336 | 23,936 | 11,375 | 22,071 |
| 1985 | 11,589 | 21,713 | 12,853 | 24,081 | 11,838 | 22,180 |
| 1986 | 12,319 | 22,660 | 13,670 | 25,145 | 12,652 | 23,272 |
| 1987 | 12,922 | 22,932 | 14,470 | 25,679 | 13,386 | 23,755 |
| 1988 | 13,418 | 22,866 | 15,221 | 25,939 | 13,932 | 23,742 |
| 1989 | 13,936 | 22,657 | 15,510 | 25,216 | 14,371 | 22,364 |
| 1990 | 14,489 | 22,349 | 16,640 | 25,667 | 15,042 | 23,202 |
| 1991 | 15,192 | 22,487 | 16,327 | 24,167 | 15,475 | 22,906 |
| 1992 | 15,644 | 22,479 | 18,593 | 26,717 | 16,336 | 23,474 |
| 1993 | 15,976 | 22,289 | 20,261 | 28,267 | 16,871 | 23,538 |
| 1994 | 16,930 | 23,030 | 21,989 | 29,912 | 17,903 | 24,354 |
| 1995 | 16,864 | 22,308 | 23,202 | 30,692 | 17,959 | 23,757 |
| 1996 | 17,468 | 22,445 | 26,205 | 33,671 | 18,777 | 24,126 |
| 1997 | 17,907 | 22,493 | 27,722 | 34,821 | 19,531 | 24,532 |
| 1998 | 18,479 | 22,855 | 29,614 | 36,627 | 20,364 | 25,186 |
| 1999 | 18,339 | 22,192 | 28,695 | 34,723 | 20,381 | 24,663 |
| 2000 | 18,577 | 21,749 | 27,447 | 32,133 | 20,600 | 24,117 |
| 2001 | 18,755 | 21,350 | 27,539 | 31,349 | 20,945 | 23,843 |
| 2002 | 18,897 | 21,176 | 27,440 | 30,750 | 21,249 | 23,812 |
| 2003 | 18,536 | 20,309 | 28,139 | 30,831 | 21,169 | 23,194 |
| 2004 | 18,909 | 20,180 | 28,408 | 30,318 | 21,636 | 23,091 |
| 2005 | 19,907 | 20,549 | 29,700 | 30,658 | 22,700 | 23,432 |
| 2006 | 20,044 | 20,044 | 28,739 | 28,739 | 22,651 | 22,651 |
| Average annual percentage change | ||||||
| 1970–2006 | 4.80% | 0.10% | 6.80% | 2.10% | 5.30% | 0.60% |
| 1996–2006 | 1.40% | -1.10% | 0.90% | -1.60% | 1.90% | -0.60% |
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce, Bureau of Economic Analysis, National Income and Product Accounts,
underlying detail estimates for Motor Vehicle Output, Washington, DC, 2007. (Additional resources: www.stat-usa.gov)
(a) Includes transplants.
(b) Adjusted by the Consumer Price Inflation Index..
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