The Used Car Index
CPI-derived used-vehicle price proxy (BLS Used Cars & Trucks, January 2019 = $20,200)
Last updated: · Data through July 2026
The July 2026 BLS used-cars CPI implies a tracker level near $25,600, about 27% above January 2019.
Then
2019
$20,200
Now
2026
$25,600
Change
2019–2026
+27%
↑ Rising
The Used Car Index: 2015–2026
CPI-derived used-vehicle price proxy (BLS Used Cars & Trucks, January 2019 = $20,200)
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics (FRED CUSR0000SETA02), scaled to approximate 2019 transaction priceskeepingupwithinflation.com
Historical Datakeepingupwithinflation.com
| Year | Price | YoY Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2015 | $20,900 | — |
| 2016 | $20,400 | -2.4% |
| 2017 | $19,600 | -3.9% |
| 2018 | $19,700 | +0.5% |
| 2019 | $19,900 | +1.0% |
| 2020 | $20,500 | +3.0% |
| 2021 | $25,900 | +26.3% |
| 2022 | $29,200 | +12.7% |
| 2023 | $27,200 | -6.8% |
| 2024 | $25,600 | -5.9% |
| 2025 | $26,300 | +2.7% |
| 2026 | $25,600 | -2.7% |
Analysis
The dollar values here are a readable proxy derived from the seasonally adjusted BLS CPI for Used Cars and Trucks (FRED CUSR0000SETA02). The series is scaled so the January 2019 index (142.214) equals about $20,200 — a round 2019 industry baseline near Edmunds' $20,618 used ATP that year. July 2026's index of 180.306 therefore maps to roughly $25,600, about 27% above January 2019.
These are not observed dealer transaction-price averages. Kelley Blue Book's July 2026 used ATP was about $27,028 (~31–34% above 2019), because ATP reflects the mix of vehicles actually sold (more trucks and SUVs) while CPI holds quality and mix closer to constant. Use KBB/Edmunds for what buyers paid; use this tracker for how used-vehicle prices moved.
Chart points through 2025 are annual averages of the CPI conversion; 2026 is July. Then/now cards compare January 2019 with July 2026. The proxy peaked near $30,800 in February 2022 and is about 17% below that high. Wholesale values (Manheim index 210 in July 2026) were up 1.3% year over year after a March 2026 bounce to 215.3. The official CPI index is the authoritative measure; the dollar conversion is only an illustration. Updated August 18, 2026.