Postage and delivery services price inflation, 1998→2022

Postage And Delivery Services Inflation Calculator

Prices for Postage And Delivery Services, 1998-2022 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for postage and delivery services are 117% higher in 2022 versus 1998 (a $23.40 difference in value).

Between 1998 and 2022: Postage and delivery services experienced an average inflation rate of 3.28% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, postage and delivery services costing $20 in the year 1998 would cost $43.40 in 2022 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.38% during this same period, inflation for postage and delivery services was higher.

In the year 1998: Pricing changed by 0.08%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for postage and delivery services during the 1998-2022 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1998 (1.55%), inflation for postage and delivery services was lower.

Price Inflation for Postage and delivery services since 1997

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2013 (6.06%), 2002 (5.92%), and 2006 (5.35%).

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Buying power of $20.00 since 1998

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Postage and delivery services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1998. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1998	$20.00	0.08%
1999	$20.60	3.00%
2000	$20.62	0.10%
2001	$21.44	4.00%
2002	$22.71	5.92%
2003	$23.85	5.01%
2004	$23.94	0.38%
2005	$24.01	0.29%
2006	$25.30	5.35%
2007	$26.00	2.77%
2008	$27.08	4.14%
2009	$28.21	4.18%
2010	$29.16	3.37%
2011	$30.41	4.28%
2012	$31.51	3.64%
2013	$33.42	6.06%
2014	$34.80	4.12%
2015	$34.89	0.26%
2016	$35.09	0.58%
2017	$36.03	2.67%
2018	$36.96	2.57%
2019	$38.92	5.31%
2020	$40.50	4.07%
2021	$42.20	4.18%
2022	$43.40	2.85%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.

Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Postage and delivery services:

Year	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
CPI	100.000	100.085	103.085	103.192	107.315	113.669	119.369	119.823	120.169	126.592	130.103	135.492	141.154	145.909	152.161	157.702	167.261	174.154	174.602	175.610	180.295	184.936	194.763	202.691	211.158	217.180

Adjust postage and delivery services prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2022 / CPI in 1998 * 1998 USD value = 2022 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Postage and delivery services was 100.085 in the year 1998 and 217.180 in 2022:

217.180 / 100.085 * $20 = $43.40

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1998 has the same "purchasing power" as $43.40 in 2022 (in the CPI category of Postage and delivery services).

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