According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for energy services are 421.54% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $84.31 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2026:Energy services experienced an average inflation rate of 3.50% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, energy services costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $104.31 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.40% during this same period, inflation for energy services was higher.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 8.99%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for energy services during the 1978-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for energy services was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Energy services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | 8.99% |
| 1979 | $22.17 | 10.86% |
| 1980 | $25.96 | 17.07% |
| 1981 | $29.75 | 14.60% |
| 1982 | $33.87 | 13.86% |
| 1983 | $36.87 | 8.86% |
| 1984 | $38.29 | 3.84% |
| 1985 | $38.93 | 1.68% |
| 1986 | $38.42 | -1.31% |
| 1987 | $37.73 | -1.78% |
| 1988 | $38.03 | 0.77% |
| 1989 | $39.08 | 2.78% |
| 1990 | $39.73 | 1.67% |
| 1991 | $40.92 | 2.99% |
| 1992 | $41.71 | 1.94% |
| 1993 | $43.06 | 3.24% |
| 1994 | $43.33 | 0.62% |
| 1995 | $43.31 | -0.05% |
| 1996 | $44.36 | 2.42% |
| 1997 | $45.45 | 2.46% |
| 1998 | $44.06 | -3.05% |
| 1999 | $43.92 | -0.32% |
| 2000 | $46.53 | 5.94% |
| 2001 | $51.75 | 11.23% |
| 2002 | $48.85 | -5.62% |
| 2003 | $52.71 | 7.91% |
| 2004 | $54.74 | 3.86% |
| 2005 | $60.52 | 10.56% |
| 2006 | $66.18 | 9.36% |
| 2007 | $67.69 | 2.28% |
| 2008 | $73.49 | 8.56% |
| 2009 | $70.34 | -4.28% |
| 2010 | $70.10 | -0.35% |
| 2011 | $70.64 | 0.78% |
| 2012 | $68.93 | -2.42% |
| 2013 | $70.80 | 2.70% |
| 2014 | $73.91 | 4.40% |
| 2015 | $72.21 | -2.29% |
| 2016 | $71.25 | -1.33% |
| 2017 | $73.66 | 3.38% |
| 2018 | $74.07 | 0.55% |
| 2019 | $73.94 | -0.18% |
| 2020 | $74.32 | 0.52% |
| 2021 | $79.54 | 7.02% |
| 2022 | $92.34 | 16.09% |
| 2023 | $94.70 | 2.55% |
| 2024 | $97.41 | 2.87% |
| 2025 | $103.22 | 5.96% |
| 2026 | $104.31 | 1.06%* |
* 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 Energy services:
| Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 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 | 20.410 | 19.992 | 19.675 | 19.625 | 19.600 | 19.483 | 19.267 | 19.183 | 19.075 | 19.017 | 18.875 | 18.325 | 18.275 | 18.708 | 19.208 | 19.208 | 19.300 | 19.533 | 19.942 | 20.183 | 20.692 | 20.933 | 21.133 | 21.892 | 22.442 | 23.342 | 23.517 | 23.517 | 23.508 | 23.525 | 23.483 | 23.575 | 23.667 | 23.875 | 24.325 | 25.383 | 27.150 | 28.517 | 29.908 | 34.492 | 40.142 | 44.717 | 50.492 | 55.033 | 61.008 | 71.425 | 81.850 | 93.192 | 101.450 | 105.350 | 107.117 | 105.717 | 103.833 | 104.633 | 107.542 | 109.333 | 112.600 | 114.783 | 118.500 | 119.233 | 119.175 | 122.058 | 125.058 | 121.242 | 120.850 | 128.033 | 142.408 | 134.408 | 145.033 | 150.625 | 166.525 | 182.108 | 186.262 | 202.212 | 193.563 | 192.886 | 194.386 | 189.679 | 194.809 | 203.374 | 198.708 | 196.059 | 202.691 | 203.815 | 203.454 | 204.508 | 218.863 | 254.085 | 260.571 | 268.041 | 284.015 | 287.021 |