According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for services less medical care services are 566.58% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $113.32 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2026:Services less medical care services experienced an average inflation rate of 4.03% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, services less medical care services costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $133.32 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.40% during this same period, inflation for services less medical care services was higher.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 8.58%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for services less medical care services during the 1978-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for services less medical care services was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Services less medical care services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | 8.58% |
| 1979 | $22.24 | 11.18% |
| 1980 | $25.76 | 15.85% |
| 1981 | $29.20 | 13.37% |
| 1982 | $31.76 | 8.74% |
| 1983 | $32.68 | 2.89% |
| 1984 | $34.36 | 5.14% |
| 1985 | $36.08 | 5.01% |
| 1986 | $37.75 | 4.63% |
| 1987 | $39.21 | 3.87% |
| 1988 | $40.92 | 4.37% |
| 1989 | $42.84 | 4.68% |
| 1990 | $45.06 | 5.18% |
| 1991 | $47.20 | 4.76% |
| 1992 | $48.86 | 3.50% |
| 1993 | $50.58 | 3.53% |
| 1994 | $52.16 | 3.11% |
| 1995 | $53.83 | 3.21% |
| 1996 | $55.55 | 3.19% |
| 1997 | $57.26 | 3.08% |
| 1998 | $58.74 | 2.59% |
| 1999 | $60.17 | 2.43% |
| 2000 | $62.20 | 3.36% |
| 2001 | $64.76 | 4.12% |
| 2002 | $66.68 | 2.98% |
| 2003 | $68.74 | 3.08% |
| 2004 | $70.62 | 2.74% |
| 2005 | $72.85 | 3.16% |
| 2006 | $75.60 | 3.77% |
| 2007 | $78.00 | 3.17% |
| 2008 | $80.68 | 3.44% |
| 2009 | $81.71 | 1.28% |
| 2010 | $82.19 | 0.58% |
| 2011 | $83.50 | 1.60% |
| 2012 | $85.12 | 1.94% |
| 2013 | $87.12 | 2.35% |
| 2014 | $89.39 | 2.61% |
| 2015 | $91.43 | 2.28% |
| 2016 | $93.91 | 2.71% |
| 2017 | $96.49 | 2.75% |
| 2018 | $99.23 | 2.84% |
| 2019 | $101.79 | 2.58% |
| 2020 | $103.57 | 1.76% |
| 2021 | $106.66 | 2.98% |
| 2022 | $113.53 | 6.45% |
| 2023 | $121.30 | 6.84% |
| 2024 | $127.51 | 5.12% |
| 2025 | $132.13 | 3.62% |
| 2026 | $133.32 | 0.90%* |
* 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 Services less medical care services:
| Year | 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 | 2026 |
| CPI | 22.780 | 23.550 | 24.117 | 24.900 | 25.408 | 25.808 | 26.225 | 26.733 | 27.308 | 28.225 | 29.275 | 30.658 | 32.808 | 35.583 | 37.467 | 38.925 | 40.583 | 44.325 | 48.317 | 52.142 | 55.933 | 60.733 | 67.525 | 78.225 | 88.683 | 96.433 | 99.225 | 104.325 | 109.550 | 114.625 | 119.067 | 124.275 | 130.092 | 136.825 | 143.342 | 148.358 | 153.600 | 158.383 | 163.475 | 168.692 | 173.883 | 178.383 | 182.725 | 188.867 | 196.642 | 202.500 | 208.733 | 214.450 | 221.225 | 229.575 | 236.847 | 244.987 | 248.122 | 249.569 | 253.554 | 258.478 | 264.546 | 271.455 | 277.656 | 285.187 | 293.017 | 301.327 | 309.096 | 314.522 | 323.885 | 344.760 | 368.351 | 387.209 | 401.220 | 404.836 |