According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for information technology, hardware and services are 88.26% lower in 2026 versus 1996 (a $17.65 difference in value).
Between 1996 and 2026:Information technology, hardware and services experienced an average inflation rate of -6.89% per year. This rate of change indicates significant deflation. In other words, information technology, hardware and services costing $20 in the year 1996 would cost $2.35 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.50% during this same period, inflation for information technology, hardware and services was significantly lower.
In the year 1996: Pricing changed by -10.30%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for information technology, hardware and services during the 1996-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1996 (2.93%), inflation for information technology, hardware and services was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Information technology, hardware and services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1996. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | $20.00 | -10.30% |
| 1997 | $17.49 | -12.53% |
| 1998 | $13.93 | -20.37% |
| 1999 | $10.67 | -23.42% |
| 2000 | $9.04 | -15.23% |
| 2001 | $7.45 | -17.58% |
| 2002 | $6.39 | -14.28% |
| 2003 | $5.64 | -11.72% |
| 2004 | $5.17 | -8.27% |
| 2005 | $4.76 | -8.07% |
| 2006 | $4.35 | -8.64% |
| 2007 | $3.70 | -14.81% |
| 2008 | $3.51 | -5.05% |
| 2009 | $3.38 | -3.87% |
| 2010 | $3.29 | -2.68% |
| 2011 | $3.15 | -4.07% |
| 2012 | $3.05 | -3.23% |
| 2013 | $2.97 | -2.55% |
| 2014 | $2.92 | -1.93% |
| 2015 | $2.81 | -3.57% |
| 2016 | $2.73 | -3.07% |
| 2017 | $2.66 | -2.40% |
| 2018 | $2.61 | -1.98% |
| 2019 | $2.58 | -1.09% |
| 2020 | $2.56 | -0.87% |
| 2021 | $2.57 | 0.60% |
| 2022 | $2.53 | -1.72% |
| 2023 | $2.48 | -2.03% |
| 2024 | $2.44 | -1.64% |
| 2025 | $2.37 | -2.77% |
| 2026 | $2.35 | -0.90%* |
* 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 | 1487.800 | 1432.575 | 1391.083 | 1318.783 | 1245.142 | 1172.683 | 1070.842 | 949.567 | 851.792 | 745.083 | 593.308 | 454.358 | 385.158 | 317.467 | 272.117 | 240.217 | 220.350 | 202.567 | 185.067 | 157.663 | 149.694 | 143.907 | 140.052 | 134.351 | 130.014 | 126.703 | 124.256 | 119.819 | 116.136 | 113.349 | 111.102 | 109.892 | 108.938 | 109.588 | 107.703 | 105.519 | 103.793 | 100.913 | 100.002 |