According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for professional services are 406.14% higher in 2025 versus 1981 (a $81.23 difference in value).
Between 1981 and 2025: Professional services experienced an average inflation rate of 3.75% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, professional services costing $20 in the year 1981 would cost $101.23 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.89% during this same period, inflation for professional services was higher.
In the year 1981: Pricing changed by 10.27%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for professional services during the 1981-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1981 (10.33%), inflation for professional services was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Professional services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1981. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1981 | $20.00 | 10.27% |
| 1982 | $21.70 | 8.49% |
| 1983 | $23.25 | 7.15% |
| 1984 | $24.91 | 7.13% |
| 1985 | $26.44 | 6.16% |
| 1986 | $28.14 | 6.41% |
| 1987 | $30.00 | 6.63% |
| 1988 | $32.02 | 6.74% |
| 1989 | $34.09 | 6.44% |
| 1990 | $36.35 | 6.63% |
| 1991 | $38.59 | 6.17% |
| 1992 | $40.93 | 6.06% |
| 1993 | $43.00 | 5.05% |
| 1994 | $44.83 | 4.27% |
| 1995 | $46.79 | 4.37% |
| 1996 | $48.51 | 3.66% |
| 1997 | $50.16 | 3.41% |
| 1998 | $51.75 | 3.17% |
| 1999 | $53.37 | 3.13% |
| 2000 | $55.34 | 3.70% |
| 2001 | $57.40 | 3.71% |
| 2002 | $59.12 | 3.00% |
| 2003 | $60.81 | 2.86% |
| 2004 | $63.21 | 3.95% |
| 2005 | $65.59 | 3.77% |
| 2006 | $67.37 | 2.71% |
| 2007 | $70.04 | 3.96% |
| 2008 | $72.41 | 3.38% |
| 2009 | $74.37 | 2.70% |
| 2010 | $76.42 | 2.76% |
| 2011 | $78.16 | 2.28% |
| 2012 | $79.63 | 1.89% |
| 2013 | $81.37 | 2.19% |
| 2014 | $82.70 | 1.63% |
| 2015 | $84.18 | 1.79% |
| 2016 | $86.51 | 2.78% |
| 2017 | $87.35 | 0.97% |
| 2018 | $88.10 | 0.86% |
| 2019 | $89.08 | 1.11% |
| 2020 | $90.78 | 1.91% |
| 2021 | $93.59 | 3.10% |
| 2022 | $95.89 | 2.45% |
| 2023 | $97.58 | 1.77% |
| 2024 | $99.75 | 2.22% |
| 2025 | $101.23 | 1.48%* |
* 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 |
| CPI | 30.908 | 32.523 | 34.723 | 37.000 | 39.415 | 40.815 | 42.169 | 45.815 | 50.838 | 55.454 | 59.977 | 64.546 | 70.115 | 77.892 | 85.892 | 93.185 | 99.846 | 106.962 | 113.554 | 120.831 | 128.838 | 137.523 | 146.385 | 156.092 | 165.723 | 175.769 | 184.654 | 192.538 | 200.962 | 208.315 | 215.415 | 222.238 | 229.200 | 237.669 | 246.492 | 253.892 | 261.162 | 271.477 | 281.700 | 289.331 | 300.792 | 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 | 434.732 |