According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for telephone services are 3.66% lower in 2026 versus 2022 (a $1.83 difference in value).
Between 2022 and 2026:Phone service experienced an average inflation rate of -0.93% per year. In other words, phone service costing $50 in the year 2022 would cost $48.17 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.68% during this same period, inflation for phone service was significantly lower.
In the year 2022: Pricing changed by 0.38%, which is above the average yearly change for phone service during the 2022-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2022 (8%), inflation for phone service was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Phone service, over time, for $50 beginning in 2022. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | $50.00 | 0.38% |
| 2023 | $50.29 | 0.58% |
| 2024 | $49.92 | -0.74% |
| 2025 | $49.53 | -0.78% |
| 2026 | $48.17 | -2.74%* |
* 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 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 100.667 | 100.050 | 98.483 | 99.267 | 99.683 | 98.308 | 95.767 | 94.850 | 95.758 | 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 | 94.630 | 93.889 | 91.313 |