According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for legal services are 190.96% higher in 2026 versus 1996 (a $19,095.51 difference in value).
Between 1996 and 2026:Legal services experienced an average inflation rate of 3.62% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, legal services costing $10,000 in the year 1996 would cost $29,095.51 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.45% during this same period, inflation for legal services was higher.
In the year 1996: Pricing changed by 3.59%, which is below the average yearly change for legal services during the 1996-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1996 (2.93%), inflation for legal services was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Legal services, over time, for $10,000 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 | $10,000.00 | 3.59% |
| 1997 | $10,429.18 | 4.29% |
| 1998 | $10,928.38 | 4.79% |
| 1999 | $11,457.29 | 4.84% |
| 2000 | $12,053.58 | 5.20% |
| 2001 | $12,698.14 | 5.35% |
| 2002 | $13,435.54 | 5.81% |
| 2003 | $14,114.06 | 5.05% |
| 2004 | $14,785.68 | 4.76% |
| 2005 | $15,389.92 | 4.09% |
| 2006 | $15,915.65 | 3.42% |
| 2007 | $16,569.12 | 4.11% |
| 2008 | $17,234.54 | 4.02% |
| 2009 | $17,706.92 | 2.74% |
| 2010 | $18,342.49 | 3.59% |
| 2011 | $18,934.37 | 3.23% |
| 2012 | $19,318.71 | 2.03% |
| 2013 | $19,850.42 | 2.75% |
| 2014 | $20,275.37 | 2.14% |
| 2015 | $20,597.84 | 1.59% |
| 2016 | $21,293.05 | 3.38% |
| 2017 | $22,051.44 | 3.56% |
| 2018 | $22,996.99 | 4.29% |
| 2019 | $23,220.39 | 0.97% |
| 2020 | $23,472.98 | 1.09% |
| 2021 | $23,833.26 | 1.53% |
| 2022 | $25,401.20 | 6.58% |
| 2023 | $27,640.02 | 8.81% |
| 2024 | $28,510.13 | 3.15% |
| 2025 | $29,095.51 | 2.05% |
| 2026 | $29,095.51 | 0.00% ** |
* 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 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 103.442 | 107.658 | 114.117 | 122.558 | 129.575 | 136.217 | 141.950 | 146.758 | 151.633 | 157.083 | 163.825 | 171.667 | 179.975 | 189.342 | 199.467 | 211.050 | 221.708 | 232.258 | 241.750 | 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 | 399.011 | 434.179 | 447.847 | 457.042 | 457.042 |