According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for information technology, hardware and services are 93.22% lower in 2026 versus 1988 (a $18.64 difference in value).
Between 1988 and 2026: Information technology, hardware and services experienced an average inflation rate of -6.84% per year. This rate of change indicates significant deflation. In other words, information technology, hardware and services costing $20 in the year 1988 would cost $1.36 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.69% during this same period, inflation for information technology, hardware and services was significantly lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Information technology, hardware and services, 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 | - |
| 1989 | $19.26 | -3.73% |
| 1990 | $18.70 | -2.90% |
| 1991 | $17.73 | -5.18% |
| 1992 | $16.74 | -5.59% |
| 1993 | $15.77 | -5.81% |
| 1994 | $14.39 | -8.70% |
| 1995 | $12.77 | -11.31% |
| 1996 | $11.45 | -10.33% |
| 1997 | $10.01 | -12.51% |
| 1998 | $7.97 | -20.39% |
| 1999 | $6.11 | -23.39% |
| 2000 | $5.18 | -15.23% |
| 2001 | $4.27 | -17.57% |
| 2002 | $3.66 | -14.33% |
| 2003 | $3.23 | -11.71% |
| 2004 | $2.96 | -8.26% |
| 2005 | $2.72 | -8.10% |
| 2006 | $2.49 | -8.51% |
| 2007 | $2.12 | -14.88% |
| 2008 | $2.01 | -5.05% |
| 2009 | $1.93 | -3.87% |
| 2010 | $1.88 | -2.68% |
| 2011 | $1.81 | -4.07% |
| 2012 | $1.75 | -3.23% |
| 2013 | $1.70 | -2.55% |
| 2014 | $1.67 | -1.93% |
| 2015 | $1.61 | -3.57% |
| 2016 | $1.56 | -3.07% |
| 2017 | $1.52 | -2.40% |
| 2018 | $1.49 | -1.99% |
| 2019 | $1.48 | -1.09% |
| 2020 | $1.46 | -0.87% |
| 2021 | $1.47 | 0.60% |
| 2022 | $1.45 | -1.72% |
| 2023 | $1.42 | -2.03% |
| 2024 | $1.40 | -1.64% |
| 2025 | $1.36 | -2.68% |
| 2026 | $1.36 | -0.08%* |
* 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 Information technology, hardware and services:
| Year | 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 | 96.275 | 93.483 | 88.642 | 83.683 | 78.825 | 71.967 | 63.825 | 57.233 | 50.075 | 39.867 | 30.542 | 25.892 | 21.342 | 18.283 | 16.142 | 14.808 | 13.608 | 12.450 | 10.597 | 10.061 | 9.672 | 9.413 | 9.030 | 8.739 | 8.516 | 8.351 | 8.053 | 7.806 | 7.619 | 7.467 | 7.386 | 7.322 | 7.365 | 7.239 | 7.092 | 6.976 | 6.789 | 6.784 |