According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for day care and preschool are 170.34% higher in 2025 versus 1998 (a $34.07 difference in value).
Between 1998 and 2025: Day care and preschool experienced an average inflation rate of 3.75% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, day care and preschool costing $20 in the year 1998 would cost $54.07 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.52% during this same period, inflation for day care and preschool was higher.
In the year 1998: Pricing changed by 4.87%, which is above the average yearly change for day care and preschool during the 1998-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1998 (1.55%), inflation for day care and preschool was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Day care and preschool, over time, for $20 beginning in 1998. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | $20.00 | 4.87% |
| 1999 | $21.03 | 5.15% |
| 2000 | $22.18 | 5.48% |
| 2001 | $23.30 | 5.04% |
| 2002 | $24.49 | 5.11% |
| 2003 | $25.60 | 4.53% |
| 2004 | $26.56 | 3.77% |
| 2005 | $27.73 | 4.40% |
| 2006 | $29.24 | 5.45% |
| 2007 | $30.50 | 4.31% |
| 2008 | $31.89 | 4.54% |
| 2009 | $33.05 | 3.65% |
| 2010 | $34.13 | 3.27% |
| 2011 | $35.07 | 2.76% |
| 2012 | $35.94 | 2.46% |
| 2013 | $36.83 | 2.47% |
| 2014 | $37.60 | 2.11% |
| 2015 | $39.09 | 3.97% |
| 2016 | $40.19 | 2.80% |
| 2017 | $41.22 | 2.57% |
| 2018 | $41.89 | 1.61% |
| 2019 | $43.05 | 2.79% |
| 2020 | $44.28 | 2.84% |
| 2021 | $45.11 | 1.88% |
| 2022 | $46.89 | 3.95% |
| 2023 | $49.53 | 5.64% |
| 2024 | $52.18 | 5.35% |
| 2025 | $54.07 | 3.61%* |
* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.
** Extended periods of 0% inflation usually indicate incomplete underlying data. This can manifest as a sharp increase in inflation later on.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Day care and preschool:
| Year | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 103.192 | 108.315 | 113.577 | 119.562 | 124.531 | 129.400 | 134.338 | 140.885 | 148.138 | 156.254 | 164.123 | 172.515 | 180.323 | 187.123 | 195.354 | 206.000 | 214.877 | 224.635 | 232.828 | 240.432 | 247.064 | 253.141 | 259.406 | 264.874 | 275.381 | 283.099 | 290.379 | 295.048 | 303.268 | 311.888 | 317.746 | 330.305 | 348.926 | 367.585 | 380.862 |