According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for services are 3,272.54% higher in 2026 versus 1939 (a $654.51 difference in value).
Between 1939 and 2026:Services experienced an average inflation rate of 4.13% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, services costing $20 in the year 1939 would cost $674.51 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.69% during this same period, inflation for services was higher.
In the year 1939: Pricing changed by 0%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for services during the 1939-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1939 (-1.30%), inflation for services was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1939. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1939 | $20.00 | - |
| 1940 | $20.05 | 0.27% |
| 1941 | $20.28 | 1.13% |
| 1942 | $21.00 | 3.55% |
| 1943 | $21.40 | 1.90% |
| 1944 | $21.88 | 2.24% |
| 1945 | $22.17 | 1.34% |
| 1946 | $22.59 | 1.86% |
| 1947 | $23.47 | 3.90% |
| 1948 | $24.96 | 6.36% |
| 1949 | $26.16 | 4.81% |
| 1950 | $26.96 | 3.06% |
| 1951 | $28.36 | 5.19% |
| 1952 | $29.71 | 4.75% |
| 1953 | $30.95 | 4.17% |
| 1954 | $31.97 | 3.32% |
| 1955 | $32.61 | 2.00% |
| 1956 | $33.51 | 2.74% |
| 1957 | $34.88 | 4.10% |
| 1958 | $36.20 | 3.78% |
| 1959 | $37.28 | 2.98% |
| 1960 | $38.47 | 3.18% |
| 1961 | $39.29 | 2.15% |
| 1962 | $40.03 | 1.87% |
| 1963 | $40.80 | 1.93% |
| 1964 | $41.56 | 1.86% |
| 1965 | $42.55 | 2.37% |
| 1966 | $44.13 | 3.73% |
| 1967 | $46.09 | 4.44% |
| 1968 | $48.48 | 5.18% |
| 1969 | $51.85 | 6.96% |
| 1970 | $56.09 | 8.18% |
| 1971 | $59.19 | 5.51% |
| 1972 | $61.49 | 3.90% |
| 1973 | $64.09 | 4.23% |
| 1974 | $70.11 | 9.38% |
| 1975 | $76.83 | 9.59% |
| 1976 | $83.15 | 8.23% |
| 1977 | $89.57 | 7.73% |
| 1978 | $97.23 | 8.54% |
| 1979 | $107.96 | 11.04% |
| 1980 | $124.59 | 15.40% |
| 1981 | $140.93 | 13.12% |
| 1982 | $153.68 | 9.04% |
| 1983 | $158.99 | 3.45% |
| 1984 | $167.35 | 5.26% |
| 1985 | $175.87 | 5.09% |
| 1986 | $184.63 | 4.98% |
| 1987 | $192.28 | 4.15% |
| 1988 | $201.05 | 4.56% |
| 1989 | $210.97 | 4.93% |
| 1990 | $222.67 | 5.54% |
| 1991 | $234.11 | 5.14% |
| 1992 | $243.25 | 3.91% |
| 1993 | $252.56 | 3.83% |
| 1994 | $260.95 | 3.32% |
| 1995 | $269.84 | 3.41% |
| 1996 | $278.57 | 3.24% |
| 1997 | $287.05 | 3.04% |
| 1998 | $294.72 | 2.67% |
| 1999 | $302.11 | 2.51% |
| 2000 | $312.48 | 3.43% |
| 2001 | $325.48 | 4.16% |
| 2002 | $335.69 | 3.14% |
| 2003 | $346.39 | 3.19% |
| 2004 | $356.47 | 2.91% |
| 2005 | $368.16 | 3.28% |
| 2006 | $382.19 | 3.81% |
| 2007 | $394.96 | 3.34% |
| 2008 | $408.80 | 3.50% |
| 2009 | $414.65 | 1.43% |
| 2010 | $418.04 | 0.82% |
| 2011 | $425.22 | 1.72% |
| 2012 | $434.20 | 2.11% |
| 2013 | $444.69 | 2.42% |
| 2014 | $456.20 | 2.59% |
| 2015 | $466.69 | 2.30% |
| 2016 | $479.92 | 2.83% |
| 2017 | $492.94 | 2.71% |
| 2018 | $506.57 | 2.77% |
| 2019 | $520.17 | 2.68% |
| 2020 | $531.17 | 2.11% |
| 2021 | $546.29 | 2.85% |
| 2022 | $580.14 | 6.20% |
| 2023 | $615.19 | 6.04% |
| 2024 | $645.22 | 4.88% |
| 2025 | $668.35 | 3.59% |
| 2026 | $674.51 | 0.92%* |
* 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:
| 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 | 2026 |
| CPI | 11.800 | 11.883 | 12.242 | 12.500 | 12.500 | 12.533 | 12.675 | 13.125 | 13.375 | 13.675 | 13.858 | 14.117 | 14.667 | 15.600 | 16.350 | 16.850 | 17.725 | 18.567 | 19.342 | 19.983 | 20.383 | 20.942 | 21.800 | 22.625 | 23.300 | 24.042 | 24.558 | 25.017 | 25.500 | 25.975 | 26.592 | 27.583 | 28.808 | 30.300 | 32.408 | 35.058 | 36.992 | 38.433 | 40.058 | 43.817 | 48.017 | 51.967 | 55.983 | 60.767 | 67.475 | 77.867 | 88.083 | 96.050 | 99.367 | 104.592 | 109.917 | 115.392 | 120.175 | 125.658 | 131.858 | 139.167 | 146.317 | 152.033 | 157.850 | 163.092 | 168.650 | 174.108 | 179.408 | 184.200 | 188.817 | 195.300 | 203.425 | 209.808 | 216.492 | 222.792 | 230.100 | 238.867 | 246.848 | 255.498 | 259.154 | 261.274 | 265.762 | 271.374 | 277.929 | 285.126 | 291.683 | 299.947 | 308.085 | 316.607 | 325.106 | 331.980 | 341.428 | 362.587 | 384.494 | 403.262 | 417.720 | 421.567 |