According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for education and communication are 53.73% higher in 2025 versus 1996 (a $3,761.28 difference in value).
Between 1996 and 2025: Education and communication experienced an average inflation rate of 1.49% per year. In other words, education and communication costing $7,000 in the year 1996 would cost $10,761.28 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.50% 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 1996-2025 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 $7,000 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 | $7,000.00 | 3.40% |
| 1997 | $7,228.78 | 3.27% |
| 1998 | $7,364.35 | 1.88% |
| 1999 | $7,429.87 | 0.89% |
| 2000 | $7,527.60 | 1.32% |
| 2001 | $7,728.13 | 2.66% |
| 2002 | $7,923.01 | 2.52% |
| 2003 | $8,061.98 | 1.75% |
| 2004 | $8,194.16 | 1.64% |
| 2005 | $8,348.37 | 1.88% |
| 2006 | $8,574.89 | 2.71% |
| 2007 | $8,781.05 | 2.40% |
| 2008 | $9,078.81 | 3.39% |
| 2009 | $9,355.06 | 3.04% |
| 2010 | $9,540.54 | 1.98% |
| 2011 | $9,654.16 | 1.19% |
| 2012 | $9,828.79 | 1.81% |
| 2013 | $9,978.74 | 1.53% |
| 2014 | $10,098.56 | 1.20% |
| 2015 | $10,149.27 | 0.50% |
| 2016 | $10,217.18 | 0.67% |
| 2017 | $10,024.30 | -1.89% |
| 2018 | $10,044.84 | 0.20% |
| 2019 | $10,118.51 | 0.73% |
| 2020 | $10,302.85 | 1.82% |
| 2021 | $10,472.66 | 1.65% |
| 2022 | $10,559.92 | 0.83% |
| 2023 | $10,662.15 | 0.97% |
| 2024 | $10,726.04 | 0.60% |
| 2025 | $10,761.28 | 0.33%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 85.469 | 88.777 | 92.192 | 95.323 | 98.438 | 100.285 | 101.177 | 102.508 | 105.238 | 107.892 | 109.785 | 111.585 | 113.685 | 116.769 | 119.577 | 123.631 | 127.393 | 129.919 | 131.466 | 133.844 | 135.886 | 137.518 | 138.209 | 139.133 | 136.507 | 136.786 | 137.790 | 140.300 | 142.612 | 143.801 | 145.193 | 146.063 | 146.543 |