According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for telephone services are 5.98% lower in 2024 versus 1998 (a $2.99 difference in value).
Between 1998 and 2024: Phone service experienced an average inflation rate of -0.24% per year. In other words, phone service costing $50 in the year 1998 would cost $47.01 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.55% during this same period, inflation for phone service was lower.
In the year 1998: Pricing changed by 0.67%, which is above the average yearly change for phone service during the 1998-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1998 (1.55%), inflation for phone service was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Phone service, over time, for $50 beginning in 1998. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | $50.00 | 0.67% |
| 1999 | $49.69 | -0.61% |
| 2000 | $48.91 | -1.57% |
| 2001 | $49.30 | 0.80% |
| 2002 | $49.51 | 0.42% |
| 2003 | $48.83 | -1.38% |
| 2004 | $47.57 | -2.58% |
| 2005 | $47.11 | -0.96% |
| 2006 | $47.56 | 0.96% |
| 2007 | $48.80 | 2.60% |
| 2008 | $49.89 | 2.24% |
| 2009 | $50.86 | 1.93% |
| 2010 | $50.85 | -0.01% |
| 2011 | $50.27 | -1.14% |
| 2012 | $50.50 | 0.47% |
| 2013 | $50.44 | -0.12% |
| 2014 | $50.23 | -0.42% |
| 2015 | $49.33 | -1.80% |
| 2016 | $49.09 | -0.47% |
| 2017 | $45.57 | -7.18% |
| 2018 | $44.89 | -1.50% |
| 2019 | $44.38 | -1.13% |
| 2020 | $45.79 | 3.18% |
| 2021 | $46.90 | 2.42% |
| 2022 | $47.08 | 0.38% |
| 2023 | $47.35 | 0.58% |
| 2024 | $47.01 | -0.72%* |
* 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 Telephone services:
| Year | 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 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 100.669 | 100.054 | 98.485 | 99.269 | 99.685 | 98.308 | 95.769 | 94.854 | 95.762 | 98.247 | 100.451 | 102.392 | 102.379 | 101.209 | 101.685 | 101.559 | 101.131 | 99.310 | 98.846 | 91.750 | 90.375 | 89.358 | 92.195 | 94.429 | 94.785 | 95.333 | 94.648 |