According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for funeral expenses are 261.62% higher in 2025 versus 1989 (a $52.32 difference in value).
Between 1989 and 2025: Funeral expenses experienced an average inflation rate of 3.64% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, funeral expenses costing $20 in the year 1989 would cost $72.32 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.66% during this same period, inflation for funeral expenses was higher.
In the year 1989: Pricing changed by 4.48%, which is above the average yearly change for funeral expenses during the 1989-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1989 (4.83%), inflation for funeral expenses was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Funeral expenses, over time, for $20 beginning in 1989. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1989 | $20.00 | 4.48% |
| 1990 | $21.25 | 6.26% |
| 1991 | $22.58 | 6.26% |
| 1992 | $23.62 | 4.61% |
| 1993 | $24.74 | 4.74% |
| 1994 | $25.99 | 5.05% |
| 1995 | $27.56 | 6.02% |
| 1996 | $28.96 | 5.08% |
| 1997 | $30.52 | 5.39% |
| 1998 | $31.71 | 3.91% |
| 1999 | $32.82 | 3.48% |
| 2000 | $33.74 | 2.83% |
| 2001 | $34.95 | 3.58% |
| 2002 | $36.67 | 4.90% |
| 2003 | $38.11 | 3.93% |
| 2004 | $39.76 | 4.34% |
| 2005 | $41.11 | 3.38% |
| 2006 | $43.21 | 5.13% |
| 2007 | $45.37 | 4.99% |
| 2008 | $47.67 | 5.07% |
| 2009 | $49.53 | 3.89% |
| 2010 | $50.66 | 2.29% |
| 2011 | $51.79 | 2.22% |
| 2012 | $52.77 | 1.91% |
| 2013 | $54.19 | 2.68% |
| 2014 | $55.17 | 1.81% |
| 2015 | $56.35 | 2.14% |
| 2016 | $57.39 | 1.84% |
| 2017 | $58.49 | 1.93% |
| 2018 | $59.59 | 1.89% |
| 2019 | $60.70 | 1.86% |
| 2020 | $61.68 | 1.60% |
| 2021 | $62.66 | 1.60% |
| 2022 | $64.70 | 3.26% |
| 2023 | $68.14 | 5.31% |
| 2024 | $71.03 | 4.24% |
| 2025 | $72.32 | 1.83%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 102.523 | 106.562 | 111.331 | 118.300 | 125.700 | 131.492 | 137.723 | 144.685 | 153.392 | 161.185 | 169.877 | 176.523 | 182.669 | 187.838 | 194.569 | 204.108 | 212.131 | 221.338 | 228.815 | 240.554 | 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 | 402.596 |