According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for legal services were 223.11% higher in 2020 versus 1989 (a $6,693.38 difference in value).
Between 1989 and 2020: Legal services experienced an average inflation rate of 3.86% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, legal services costing $3,000 in the year 1989 would cost $9,693.38 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.40% during this same period, inflation for legal services was higher.
In the year 1989: Pricing changed by 5.99%, which is above the average yearly change for legal services during the 1989-2020 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1989 (4.83%), inflation for legal services was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Legal services, over time, for $3,000 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 | $3,000.00 | 5.99% |
| 1990 | $3,222.04 | 7.40% |
| 1991 | $3,406.47 | 5.72% |
| 1992 | $3,580.99 | 5.12% |
| 1993 | $3,731.85 | 4.21% |
| 1994 | $3,858.24 | 3.39% |
| 1995 | $3,986.25 | 3.32% |
| 1996 | $4,129.63 | 3.60% |
| 1997 | $4,306.77 | 4.29% |
| 1998 | $4,513.04 | 4.79% |
| 1999 | $4,731.45 | 4.84% |
| 2000 | $4,977.55 | 5.20% |
| 2001 | $5,243.88 | 5.35% |
| 2002 | $5,548.43 | 5.81% |
| 2003 | $5,828.51 | 5.05% |
| 2004 | $6,105.97 | 4.76% |
| 2005 | $6,355.51 | 4.09% |
| 2006 | $6,572.50 | 3.41% |
| 2007 | $6,842.37 | 4.11% |
| 2008 | $7,117.16 | 4.02% |
| 2009 | $7,312.23 | 2.74% |
| 2010 | $7,574.70 | 3.59% |
| 2011 | $7,819.12 | 3.23% |
| 2012 | $7,977.84 | 2.03% |
| 2013 | $8,197.41 | 2.75% |
| 2014 | $8,372.90 | 2.14% |
| 2015 | $8,506.07 | 1.59% |
| 2016 | $8,793.16 | 3.38% |
| 2017 | $9,106.35 | 3.56% |
| 2018 | $9,496.82 | 4.29% |
| 2019 | $9,589.07 | 0.97% |
| 2020 | $9,693.38 | 1.09% |
| 2021 | $9,842.17 | 1.53% |
| 2022 | $10,490.17 | 6.58% |
| 2023 | $11,143.57 | 6.23% |
| 2024 | $11,733.23 | 5.29%* |
* 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 Legal services:
| 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 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 103.438 | 107.662 | 114.115 | 122.562 | 129.577 | 136.215 | 141.954 | 146.762 | 151.631 | 157.085 | 163.823 | 171.669 | 179.977 | 189.338 | 199.469 | 211.054 | 221.708 | 232.262 | 241.754 | 250.008 | 260.273 | 270.726 | 278.146 | 288.130 | 297.427 | 303.465 | 311.817 | 318.492 | 323.558 | 334.478 | 346.391 | 361.244 | 364.754 | 368.721 | 374.381 | 399.030 | 423.884 | 446.314 |