According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for education and communication are 71.66% higher in 2026 versus 1993 (a $14,689.32 difference in value).
Between 1993 and 2026:Education and communication experienced an average inflation rate of 1.65% per year. In other words, education and communication costing $20,500 in the year 1993 would cost $35,189.32 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.50% during this same period, inflation for education and communication was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Education and communication, over time, for $20,500 beginning in 1993. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1993 | $20,500.00 | - |
| 1994 | $21,293.54 | 3.87% |
| 1995 | $22,113.06 | 3.85% |
| 1996 | $22,864.62 | 3.40% |
| 1997 | $23,612.18 | 3.27% |
| 1998 | $24,053.92 | 1.87% |
| 1999 | $24,267.79 | 0.89% |
| 2000 | $24,587.61 | 1.32% |
| 2001 | $25,243.22 | 2.67% |
| 2002 | $25,878.85 | 2.52% |
| 2003 | $26,332.59 | 1.75% |
| 2004 | $26,764.33 | 1.64% |
| 2005 | $27,268.04 | 1.88% |
| 2006 | $28,007.61 | 2.71% |
| 2007 | $28,681.61 | 2.41% |
| 2008 | $29,654.18 | 3.39% |
| 2009 | $30,556.51 | 3.04% |
| 2010 | $31,162.36 | 1.98% |
| 2011 | $31,533.48 | 1.19% |
| 2012 | $32,103.85 | 1.81% |
| 2013 | $32,593.64 | 1.53% |
| 2014 | $32,984.99 | 1.20% |
| 2015 | $33,150.63 | 0.50% |
| 2016 | $33,372.44 | 0.67% |
| 2017 | $32,742.45 | -1.89% |
| 2018 | $32,809.53 | 0.20% |
| 2019 | $33,050.17 | 0.73% |
| 2020 | $33,652.26 | 1.82% |
| 2021 | $34,206.94 | 1.65% |
| 2022 | $34,491.95 | 0.83% |
| 2023 | $34,825.87 | 0.97% |
| 2024 | $35,034.53 | 0.60% |
| 2025 | $35,212.65 | 0.51% |
| 2026 | $35,189.32 | -0.07%* |
* 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 Education and communication:
| Year | 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 | 2026 |
| CPI | 85.467 | 88.775 | 92.192 | 95.325 | 98.442 | 100.283 | 101.175 | 102.508 | 105.242 | 107.892 | 109.783 | 111.583 | 113.683 | 116.767 | 119.577 | 123.631 | 127.393 | 129.919 | 131.466 | 133.844 | 135.886 | 137.518 | 138.208 | 139.133 | 136.507 | 136.786 | 137.790 | 140.300 | 142.612 | 143.801 | 145.193 | 146.063 | 146.805 | 146.708 |