According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for education and communication are 54.09% higher in 2026 versus 1996 (a $21,634.62 difference in value).
Between 1996 and 2026:Education and communication experienced an average inflation rate of 1.45% per year. In other words, education and communication costing $40,000 in the year 1996 would cost $61,634.62 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.46% during this same period, inflation for education and communication was lower.
In the year 1996: Pricing changed by 3.40%, which is above the average yearly change for education and communication during the 1996-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1996 (2.93%), inflation for education and communication was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Education and communication, over time, for $40,000 beginning in 1996. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | $40,000.00 | 3.40% |
| 1997 | $41,307.81 | 3.27% |
| 1998 | $42,080.60 | 1.87% |
| 1999 | $42,454.76 | 0.89% |
| 2000 | $43,014.25 | 1.32% |
| 2001 | $44,161.20 | 2.67% |
| 2002 | $45,273.19 | 2.52% |
| 2003 | $46,066.96 | 1.75% |
| 2004 | $46,822.27 | 1.64% |
| 2005 | $47,703.47 | 1.88% |
| 2006 | $48,997.29 | 2.71% |
| 2007 | $50,176.41 | 2.41% |
| 2008 | $51,877.86 | 3.39% |
| 2009 | $53,456.42 | 3.04% |
| 2010 | $54,516.30 | 1.98% |
| 2011 | $55,165.56 | 1.19% |
| 2012 | $56,163.37 | 1.81% |
| 2013 | $57,020.23 | 1.53% |
| 2014 | $57,704.87 | 1.20% |
| 2015 | $57,994.65 | 0.50% |
| 2016 | $58,382.69 | 0.67% |
| 2017 | $57,280.57 | -1.89% |
| 2018 | $57,397.92 | 0.20% |
| 2019 | $57,818.90 | 0.73% |
| 2020 | $58,872.21 | 1.82% |
| 2021 | $59,842.57 | 1.65% |
| 2022 | $60,341.18 | 0.83% |
| 2023 | $60,925.36 | 0.97% |
| 2024 | $61,290.39 | 0.60% |
| 2025 | $61,601.99 | 0.51% |
| 2026 | $61,634.62 | 0.05%* |
* 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 | 146.883 |