According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for funeral expenses are 282.01% higher in 2026 versus 1988 (a $56.40 difference in value).
Between 1988 and 2026:Funeral expenses experienced an average inflation rate of 3.59% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, funeral expenses costing $20 in the year 1988 would cost $76.40 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.69% during this same period, inflation for funeral expenses was higher.
In the year 1988: Pricing changed by 3.93%, which is above the average yearly change for funeral expenses during the 1988-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1988 (4.08%), inflation for funeral expenses was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Funeral expenses, over time, for $20 beginning in 1988. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | $20.00 | 3.93% |
| 1989 | $20.90 | 4.48% |
| 1990 | $22.20 | 6.26% |
| 1991 | $23.59 | 6.26% |
| 1992 | $24.68 | 4.61% |
| 1993 | $25.85 | 4.74% |
| 1994 | $27.16 | 5.05% |
| 1995 | $28.79 | 6.02% |
| 1996 | $30.25 | 5.08% |
| 1997 | $31.88 | 5.39% |
| 1998 | $33.13 | 3.91% |
| 1999 | $34.28 | 3.48% |
| 2000 | $35.26 | 2.83% |
| 2001 | $36.52 | 3.58% |
| 2002 | $38.31 | 4.90% |
| 2003 | $39.82 | 3.93% |
| 2004 | $41.54 | 4.34% |
| 2005 | $42.95 | 3.38% |
| 2006 | $45.15 | 5.13% |
| 2007 | $47.40 | 5.00% |
| 2008 | $49.81 | 5.07% |
| 2009 | $51.74 | 3.89% |
| 2010 | $52.93 | 2.29% |
| 2011 | $54.11 | 2.22% |
| 2012 | $55.14 | 1.91% |
| 2013 | $56.62 | 2.68% |
| 2014 | $57.64 | 1.81% |
| 2015 | $58.87 | 2.14% |
| 2016 | $59.96 | 1.84% |
| 2017 | $61.11 | 1.93% |
| 2018 | $62.26 | 1.89% |
| 2019 | $63.42 | 1.86% |
| 2020 | $64.44 | 1.60% |
| 2021 | $65.47 | 1.60% |
| 2022 | $67.60 | 3.26% |
| 2023 | $71.19 | 5.31% |
| 2024 | $74.21 | 4.24% |
| 2025 | $76.01 | 2.42% |
| 2026 | $76.40 | 0.52%* |
* 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 Funeral expenses:
| Year | 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 | 100.000 | 102.525 | 106.558 | 111.333 | 118.300 | 125.700 | 131.492 | 137.725 | 144.683 | 153.392 | 161.183 | 169.875 | 176.525 | 182.667 | 187.842 | 194.567 | 204.108 | 212.133 | 221.342 | 228.817 | 240.550 | 252.567 | 265.372 | 275.684 | 282.011 | 288.272 | 293.768 | 301.641 | 307.095 | 313.676 | 319.442 | 325.593 | 331.738 | 337.915 | 343.322 | 348.800 | 360.161 | 379.301 | 395.379 | 404.959 | 407.062 |