(current cents)

Embedded Dataset Excel:

Dataset Excel:

Notes:

The Bureau of Transportation Statistics rebased the consumer price index from 1982-84=100 to 1990=100. 

Air carrier data source changed for data from 1993 onward. Improved estimates are not comparable to data in versions before 2021. 

Description:

KEY: N = data do not exist; NA = not applicable; U = data are not available.

^a Amtrak began operations in 1971.

Source:

Air carrier, domestic, scheduled service:

U.S. Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of Airline Information, TranStats Database, Origin and Destination Survey, available at https://www.transtats.bts.gov/homepage.asp as of May 10, 2024.

Commuter rail:

1990-2001: American Public Transportation Association, Public Transportation Fact Book (Washington, DC: 2011), tables 3 and 92 (passenger fares / passenger miles).

2002-22: U.S. Department of Transportation, Federal Transit Administration, National Transit Database, Annual Database Service and Annual Database Fare Revenue (Washington, D.C.: Annual reports), available at https://www.transit.dot.gov/ntd/ntd-data as of May 10, 2024.

Intercity / Amtrak:

1960-70: Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts (Washington, DC:  Annual Issues).

1975-80: Amtrak, personal communication, June 22, 2011.

1985-2002: Amtrak, Amtrak Annual Report, Statistical Appendix (Washington, DC: Annual Issues) (transportation revenues / passenger-miles).

2003-22: Association of American Railroads, Railroad Facts (Washington, DC:  Annual Issues), p. 73 and similar pages in previous editions (passenger revenue/revenue passenger miles).

Consumer Price Index:

U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index-Urban, U.S. All Items Indexes, available at http://www.bls.gov/cpi/ as of May 10, 2024.