According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for education and communication are 47.51% higher in 2026 versus 1998 (a $285,434,797.62 difference in value).
Between 1998 and 2026: Education and communication experienced an average inflation rate of 1.40% per year. In other words, education and communication costing $600,788,188 in the year 1998 would cost $886,222,985.62 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.49% during this same period, inflation for education and communication was lower.
In the year 1998: Pricing changed by 1.87%, which is above the average yearly change for education and communication during the 1998-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1998 (1.55%), inflation for education and communication was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Education and communication, over time, for $600,788,188 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 | $600,788,188.00 | 1.87% |
| 1999 | $606,130,080.65 | 0.89% |
| 2000 | $614,117,957.50 | 1.32% |
| 2001 | $630,493,105.06 | 2.67% |
| 2002 | $646,369,010.31 | 2.52% |
| 2003 | $657,701,810.60 | 1.75% |
| 2004 | $668,485,444.35 | 1.64% |
| 2005 | $681,066,350.40 | 1.88% |
| 2006 | $699,538,315.63 | 2.71% |
| 2007 | $716,372,766.10 | 2.41% |
| 2008 | $740,664,398.86 | 3.39% |
| 2009 | $763,201,694.17 | 3.04% |
| 2010 | $778,333,728.38 | 1.98% |
| 2011 | $787,603,160.23 | 1.19% |
| 2012 | $801,849,039.36 | 1.81% |
| 2013 | $814,082,472.77 | 1.53% |
| 2014 | $823,857,137.83 | 1.20% |
| 2015 | $827,994,358.80 | 0.50% |
| 2016 | $833,534,450.64 | 0.67% |
| 2017 | $817,799,331.72 | -1.89% |
| 2018 | $819,474,788.89 | 0.20% |
| 2019 | $825,485,166.98 | 0.73% |
| 2020 | $840,523,343.64 | 1.82% |
| 2021 | $854,377,317.56 | 1.65% |
| 2022 | $861,496,013.57 | 0.83% |
| 2023 | $869,836,355.49 | 0.97% |
| 2024 | $875,047,945.90 | 0.60% |
| 2025 | $879,721,761.57 | 0.53% |
| 2026 | $886,222,985.62 | 0.74%* |
* 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 | 146.843 | 147.928 |