According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for utilities and public transportation are 137.87% higher in 2024 versus 1985 (a $27.57 difference in value).
Between 1985 and 2024: Utilities and public transportation experienced an average inflation rate of 2.25% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, utilities and public transportation costing $20 in the year 1985 would cost $47.57 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.78% during this same period, inflation for utilities and public transportation was lower.
In the year 1985: Pricing changed by 2.97%, which is above the average yearly change for utilities and public transportation during the 1985-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1985 (3.55%), inflation for utilities and public transportation was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Utilities and public transportation, over time, for $20 beginning in 1985. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1985 | $20.00 | 2.97% |
| 1986 | $20.35 | 1.76% |
| 1987 | $20.39 | 0.17% |
| 1988 | $20.69 | 1.50% |
| 1989 | $21.39 | 3.40% |
| 1990 | $22.21 | 3.83% |
| 1991 | $23.08 | 3.93% |
| 1992 | $23.64 | 2.41% |
| 1993 | $24.69 | 4.45% |
| 1994 | $25.10 | 1.65% |
| 1995 | $25.37 | 1.08% |
| 1996 | $26.08 | 2.78% |
| 1997 | $26.76 | 2.64% |
| 1998 | $26.78 | 0.06% |
| 1999 | $27.01 | 0.86% |
| 2000 | $27.98 | 3.60% |
| 2001 | $29.53 | 5.53% |
| 2002 | $29.05 | -1.64% |
| 2003 | $30.14 | 3.77% |
| 2004 | $30.72 | 1.91% |
| 2005 | $32.39 | 5.44% |
| 2006 | $34.25 | 5.74% |
| 2007 | $35.10 | 2.48% |
| 2008 | $37.19 | 5.98% |
| 2009 | $36.75 | -1.21% |
| 2010 | $37.25 | 1.36% |
| 2011 | $37.88 | 1.71% |
| 2012 | $38.05 | 0.45% |
| 2013 | $38.91 | 2.24% |
| 2014 | $39.75 | 2.18% |
| 2015 | $39.40 | -0.88% |
| 2016 | $39.48 | 0.19% |
| 2017 | $39.69 | 0.55% |
| 2018 | $39.84 | 0.36% |
| 2019 | $39.98 | 0.36% |
| 2020 | $40.07 | 0.23% |
| 2021 | $41.79 | 4.30% |
| 2022 | $45.70 | 9.35% |
| 2023 | $46.67 | 2.13% |
| 2024 | $47.57 | 1.93%* |
* 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 Utilities and public transportation:
| 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 |
| CPI | 25.046 | 26.015 | 26.708 | 27.608 | 28.146 | 28.523 | 28.746 | 28.962 | 29.008 | 29.223 | 29.754 | 30.315 | 31.415 | 33.408 | 35.708 | 37.438 | 38.685 | 42.115 | 46.731 | 51.223 | 55.731 | 59.262 | 63.369 | 72.400 | 83.177 | 93.500 | 100.592 | 105.892 | 109.038 | 110.954 | 111.138 | 112.808 | 116.638 | 121.100 | 125.854 | 128.892 | 134.623 | 136.838 | 138.315 | 142.162 | 145.915 | 146.008 | 147.262 | 152.569 | 161.000 | 158.354 | 164.331 | 167.469 | 176.585 | 186.715 | 191.340 | 202.783 | 200.337 | 203.061 | 206.541 | 207.469 | 212.115 | 216.730 | 214.816 | 215.216 | 216.396 | 217.178 | 217.970 | 218.462 | 227.859 | 249.156 | 254.458 | 259.371 |