According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for professional services are 700% higher in 2026 versus 1976 (a $140 difference in value).
Between 1976 and 2026:Professional services experienced an average inflation rate of 4.25% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, professional services costing $20 in the year 1976 would cost $160 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.54% during this same period, inflation for professional services was higher.
In the year 1976: Pricing changed by 9.06%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for professional services during the 1976-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1976 (5.74%), inflation for professional services was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Professional services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1976. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1976 | $20.00 | 9.06% |
| 1977 | $21.63 | 8.16% |
| 1978 | $23.28 | 7.63% |
| 1979 | $25.29 | 8.62% |
| 1980 | $28.09 | 11.09% |
| 1981 | $30.98 | 10.27% |
| 1982 | $33.61 | 8.49% |
| 1983 | $36.01 | 7.15% |
| 1984 | $38.58 | 7.12% |
| 1985 | $40.96 | 6.17% |
| 1986 | $43.58 | 6.41% |
| 1987 | $46.47 | 6.63% |
| 1988 | $49.60 | 6.74% |
| 1989 | $52.80 | 6.44% |
| 1990 | $56.30 | 6.63% |
| 1991 | $59.77 | 6.17% |
| 1992 | $63.40 | 6.06% |
| 1993 | $66.60 | 5.05% |
| 1994 | $69.45 | 4.27% |
| 1995 | $72.48 | 4.37% |
| 1996 | $75.14 | 3.66% |
| 1997 | $77.70 | 3.41% |
| 1998 | $80.16 | 3.17% |
| 1999 | $82.67 | 3.13% |
| 2000 | $85.72 | 3.69% |
| 2001 | $88.91 | 3.71% |
| 2002 | $91.57 | 3.00% |
| 2003 | $94.20 | 2.86% |
| 2004 | $97.92 | 3.95% |
| 2005 | $101.61 | 3.77% |
| 2006 | $104.36 | 2.71% |
| 2007 | $108.49 | 3.96% |
| 2008 | $112.16 | 3.38% |
| 2009 | $115.19 | 2.70% |
| 2010 | $118.37 | 2.76% |
| 2011 | $121.07 | 2.28% |
| 2012 | $123.35 | 1.89% |
| 2013 | $126.05 | 2.19% |
| 2014 | $128.10 | 1.63% |
| 2015 | $130.39 | 1.79% |
| 2016 | $134.01 | 2.78% |
| 2017 | $135.31 | 0.97% |
| 2018 | $136.47 | 0.86% |
| 2019 | $137.98 | 1.11% |
| 2020 | $140.62 | 1.91% |
| 2021 | $144.97 | 3.10% |
| 2022 | $148.53 | 2.45% |
| 2023 | $151.15 | 1.77% |
| 2024 | $154.51 | 2.22% |
| 2025 | $158.40 | 2.51% |
| 2026 | $160.00 | 1.01%* |
* 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 Professional services:
| Year | 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 | 2026 |
| CPI | 30.908 | 32.525 | 34.725 | 37.000 | 39.417 | 40.817 | 42.167 | 45.817 | 50.842 | 55.450 | 59.975 | 64.550 | 70.117 | 77.892 | 85.892 | 93.183 | 99.850 | 106.958 | 113.558 | 120.833 | 128.842 | 137.525 | 146.383 | 156.092 | 165.725 | 175.767 | 184.650 | 192.542 | 200.958 | 208.317 | 215.417 | 222.242 | 229.200 | 237.667 | 246.492 | 253.892 | 261.158 | 271.475 | 281.700 | 289.333 | 300.791 | 310.968 | 319.372 | 328.186 | 335.666 | 341.994 | 349.468 | 355.153 | 361.514 | 371.546 | 375.138 | 378.359 | 382.563 | 389.869 | 401.939 | 411.798 | 419.068 | 428.391 | 439.156 | 443.599 |