According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for services are 593.75% higher in 2026 versus 1978 (a $118.75 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2026:Services experienced an average inflation rate of 4.12% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, services costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $138.75 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.40% during this same period, inflation for services was higher.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 8.54%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for services during the 1978-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for services was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for 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 | 8.54% |
| 1979 | $22.21 | 11.04% |
| 1980 | $25.63 | 15.40% |
| 1981 | $28.99 | 13.12% |
| 1982 | $31.61 | 9.04% |
| 1983 | $32.70 | 3.45% |
| 1984 | $34.42 | 5.26% |
| 1985 | $36.18 | 5.09% |
| 1986 | $37.98 | 4.98% |
| 1987 | $39.55 | 4.15% |
| 1988 | $41.36 | 4.56% |
| 1989 | $43.40 | 4.93% |
| 1990 | $45.80 | 5.54% |
| 1991 | $48.16 | 5.14% |
| 1992 | $50.04 | 3.91% |
| 1993 | $51.95 | 3.83% |
| 1994 | $53.68 | 3.32% |
| 1995 | $55.51 | 3.41% |
| 1996 | $57.30 | 3.24% |
| 1997 | $59.05 | 3.04% |
| 1998 | $60.63 | 2.67% |
| 1999 | $62.14 | 2.51% |
| 2000 | $64.28 | 3.43% |
| 2001 | $66.95 | 4.16% |
| 2002 | $69.05 | 3.14% |
| 2003 | $71.25 | 3.19% |
| 2004 | $73.33 | 2.91% |
| 2005 | $75.73 | 3.28% |
| 2006 | $78.62 | 3.81% |
| 2007 | $81.24 | 3.34% |
| 2008 | $84.09 | 3.50% |
| 2009 | $85.29 | 1.43% |
| 2010 | $85.99 | 0.82% |
| 2011 | $87.47 | 1.72% |
| 2012 | $89.32 | 2.11% |
| 2013 | $91.47 | 2.42% |
| 2014 | $93.84 | 2.59% |
| 2015 | $96.00 | 2.30% |
| 2016 | $98.72 | 2.83% |
| 2017 | $101.40 | 2.71% |
| 2018 | $104.20 | 2.77% |
| 2019 | $107.00 | 2.68% |
| 2020 | $109.26 | 2.11% |
| 2021 | $112.37 | 2.85% |
| 2022 | $119.34 | 6.20% |
| 2023 | $126.55 | 6.04% |
| 2024 | $132.72 | 4.88% |
| 2025 | $137.48 | 3.59% |
| 2026 | $138.75 | 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 |