Internet services priced at $50 in 1998 $41.63 in 2025

Internet Services Inflation Calculator

$

Prices for Internet Services, 1998-2025 ($50)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for internet services and electronic information providers are 16.74% lower in 2025 versus 1998 (a $8.37 difference in value).

Between 1998 and 2025: Internet services experienced an average inflation rate of -0.68% per year. In other words, internet services costing $50 in the year 1998 would cost $41.63 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.53% during this same period, inflation for internet services was significantly lower.

In the year 1998: Pricing changed by 2.46%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for internet services during the 1998-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1998 (1.55%), inflation for internet services was higher.

Price Inflation for Internet services and electronic information providers since 1997

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2007 (-20.53%), 1999 (-9.98%), and 2000 (4.50%).

View price changes for other categories
College tuition and fees · Minneapolis-St Paul, Minnesota · Fresh fruits · Bananas · More

Buying power of $50.00 since 1998

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Internet services, over time, for $50 beginning in 1998. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1998$50.002.46%
1999$45.01-9.98%
2000$47.034.50%
2001$47.851.74%
2002$48.260.86%
2003$48.700.92%
2004$47.51-2.45%
2005$46.70-1.70%
2006$44.98-3.70%
2007$35.74-20.53%
2008$36.070.91%
2009$37.353.55%
2010$37.590.64%
2011$37.23-0.94%
2012$37.320.24%
2013$37.670.92%
2014$38.101.14%
2015$37.83-0.70%
2016$37.78-0.15%
2017$37.35-1.13%
2018$37.06-0.76%
2019$37.621.50%
2020$38.161.43%
2021$38.721.47%
2022$39.351.64%
2023$40.833.76%
2024$42.032.95%
2025$41.63-0.96%*

* 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 Internet services and electronic information providers:

Year19971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
CPI100.000102.46292.23896.38598.06298.90099.80897.36295.70892.16973.24773.91276.53577.02776.30276.48777.19078.06977.52477.41176.53475.95477.09078.19479.34080.64283.67086.13685.307

Adjust internet services prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2025 / CPI in 1998 * 1998 USD value = 2025 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Internet services and electronic information providers was 102.462 in the year 1998 and 85.307 in 2025:

85.307 / 102.462 * $50 = $41.63

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $50 in 1998 has the same "purchasing power" as $41.63 in 2025 (in the CPI category of Internet services and electronic information providers).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Internet services and electronic information providers in 1997. In addition to internet services, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

» Read more about inflation and investment.