According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for education and communication are 35.98% higher in 2026 versus 2002 (a $1,223,222,677.07 difference in value).
Between 2002 and 2026:Education and communication experienced an average inflation rate of 1.29% per year. In other words, education and communication costing $3,400,000,000 in the year 2002 would cost $4,623,222,677.07 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.51% during this same period, inflation for education and communication was lower.
In the year 2002: Pricing changed by 2.52%, which is above the average yearly change for education and communication during the 2002-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2002 (1.59%), inflation for education and communication was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Education and communication, over time, for $3,400,000,000 beginning in 2002. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2002 | $3,400,000,000.00 | 2.52% |
| 2003 | $3,459,612,265.39 | 1.75% |
| 2004 | $3,516,335,830.69 | 1.64% |
| 2005 | $3,582,513,323.55 | 1.88% |
| 2006 | $3,679,678,690.04 | 2.71% |
| 2007 | $3,768,230,478.10 | 2.41% |
| 2008 | $3,896,008,187.22 | 3.39% |
| 2009 | $4,014,557,812.62 | 3.04% |
| 2010 | $4,094,154,630.42 | 1.98% |
| 2011 | $4,142,913,261.76 | 1.19% |
| 2012 | $4,217,848,768.05 | 1.81% |
| 2013 | $4,282,198,501.58 | 1.53% |
| 2014 | $4,333,614,737.00 | 1.20% |
| 2015 | $4,355,377,153.01 | 0.50% |
| 2016 | $4,384,518,884.68 | 0.67% |
| 2017 | $4,301,749,748.98 | -1.89% |
| 2018 | $4,310,562,910.33 | 0.20% |
| 2019 | $4,342,178,419.71 | 0.73% |
| 2020 | $4,421,281,532.40 | 1.82% |
| 2021 | $4,494,155,557.27 | 1.65% |
| 2022 | $4,531,600,988.65 | 0.83% |
| 2023 | $4,575,472,464.66 | 0.97% |
| 2024 | $4,602,886,228.47 | 0.60% |
| 2025 | $4,626,287,325.25 | 0.51% |
| 2026 | $4,623,222,677.07 | -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 |