Education price history from 1999 through 2020

Education Inflation Calculator

Prices for Education, 1999-2020 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for education were 176.98% higher in 2020 versus 1999 (a $35.40 difference in value).

Between 1999 and 2020: Education experienced an average inflation rate of 4.97% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, education costing $20 in the year 1999 would cost $55.40 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.11% during this same period, inflation for education was higher.

In the year 1999: Pricing changed by 0%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for education during the 1999-2020 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1999 (2.19%), inflation for education was lower.

Price Inflation for Education since 1993

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2018 (166.02%), 1994 (6.25%), and 1995 (5.72%).

Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Education:

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
CPI	78.367	83.267	88.033	92.667	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	97.300	258.840	265.840	269.497

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Buying power of $20 since 1999

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Education, over time, for $20 beginning in 1999. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1999	$20.00	-
2000	$20.00	0.00%
2001	$20.00	0.00%
2002	$20.00	0.00%
2003	$20.00	0.00%
2004	$20.00	0.00%
2005	$20.00	0.00%
2006	$20.00	0.00%
2007	$20.00	0.00%
2008	$20.00	0.00%
2009	$20.00	0.00%
2010	$20.00	0.00%
2011	$20.00	0.00%
2012	$20.00	0.00%
2013	$20.00	0.00%
2014	$20.00	0.00%
2015	$20.00	0.00%
2016	$20.00	0.00%
2017	$20.00	0.00%
2018	$53.20	166.02%
2019	$54.64	2.70%
2020	$55.40	1.38%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.

How to calculate the inflation rate for education, 1999-2020

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2020 / CPI in 1999 * 1999 USD value = 2020 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Education was 97.300 in the year 1999 and 269.497 in 2020:

269.497 / 97.300 * $20 = $55.40

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1999 has the same "purchasing power" as $55.40 in 2020 (in the CPI category of Education).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Education in 1993. In addition to education, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.