According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for postage are 218.77% higher in 2025 versus 1988 (a $43.75 difference in value).
Between 1988 and 2025: Postage experienced an average inflation rate of 3.18% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, postage costing $20 in the year 1988 would cost $63.75 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.72% during this same period, inflation for postage was higher.
In the year 1988: Pricing changed by 10.14%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for postage during the 1988-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1988 (4.08%), inflation for postage was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Postage, over time, for $20 beginning in 1988. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | $20.00 | 10.14% |
| 1989 | $20.61 | 3.07% |
| 1990 | $20.61 | 0.00% ** |
| 1991 | $23.66 | 14.80% |
| 1992 | $23.94 | 1.17% |
| 1993 | $23.94 | 0.00% ** |
| 1994 | $23.94 | 0.00% ** |
| 1995 | $26.41 | 10.32% |
| 1996 | $26.41 | 0.00% ** |
| 1997 | $26.41 | 0.00% ** |
| 1998 | $26.41 | 0.00% ** |
| 1999 | $27.20 | 2.99% |
| 2000 | $27.20 | 0.00% ** |
| 2001 | $28.26 | 3.90% |
| 2002 | $29.96 | 5.99% |
| 2003 | $31.46 | 5.01% |
| 2004 | $31.46 | 0.00% ** |
| 2005 | $31.46 | 0.00% ** |
| 2006 | $33.14 | 5.34% |
| 2007 | $33.95 | 2.47% |
| 2008 | $35.11 | 3.41% |
| 2009 | $36.85 | 4.93% |
| 2010 | $37.87 | 2.79% |
| 2011 | $39.33 | 3.85% |
| 2012 | $40.72 | 3.53% |
| 2013 | $43.27 | 6.26% |
| 2014 | $45.10 | 4.24% |
| 2015 | $45.23 | 0.29% |
| 2016 | $45.57 | 0.75% |
| 2017 | $46.74 | 2.56% |
| 2018 | $47.73 | 2.11% |
| 2019 | $50.43 | 5.67% |
| 2020 | $52.66 | 4.41% |
| 2021 | $54.75 | 3.97% |
| 2022 | $56.51 | 3.22% |
| 2023 | $58.99 | 4.38% |
| 2024 | $62.12 | 5.31% |
| 2025 | $63.75 | 2.63%* |
* 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 Postage:
| Year | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1938 | 1939 | 1940 | 1941 | 1942 | 1943 | 1944 | 1945 | 1946 | 1947 | 1948 | 1949 | 1950 | 1951 | 1952 | 1953 | 1954 | 1955 | 1956 | 1957 | 1958 | 1959 | 1960 | 1961 | 1962 | 1963 | 1964 | 1965 | 1966 | 1967 | 1968 | 1969 | 1970 | 1971 | 1972 | 1973 | 1974 | 1975 | 1976 | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 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 |
| CPI | 12.900 | 12.900 | 12.900 | 12.900 | 12.900 | 12.900 | 12.900 | 12.900 | 12.900 | 14.200 | 14.800 | 14.700 | 14.500 | 14.500 | 15.680 | 15.700 | 16.180 | 17.700 | 18.080 | 19.300 | 19.300 | 19.300 | 19.400 | 21.040 | 22.700 | 23.580 | 23.740 | 23.900 | 27.820 | 28.533 | 28.600 | 28.820 | 29.680 | 34.020 | 34.700 | 34.900 | 40.900 | 43.400 | 43.400 | 50.492 | 51.946 | 65.831 | 66.800 | 72.285 | 76.200 | 76.200 | 89.400 | 100.000 | 100.000 | 100.000 | 108.792 | 110.200 | 110.200 | 121.377 | 125.100 | 125.100 | 143.615 | 145.300 | 145.300 | 145.300 | 160.300 | 160.300 | 160.300 | 160.300 | 165.100 | 165.100 | 171.531 | 181.800 | 190.900 | 190.900 | 190.900 | 201.100 | 206.067 | 213.098 | 223.608 | 229.846 | 238.703 | 247.124 | 262.592 | 273.728 | 274.517 | 276.581 | 283.659 | 289.642 | 306.074 | 319.584 | 332.264 | 342.977 | 357.988 | 377.014 | 386.917 |