Cell service price history from 1999 through 2020

Cell Service Inflation Calculator

Prices for Cell Service, 1999-2020 ($50)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for wireless telephone services were 45.37% lower in 2020 versus 1999 (a $22.68 difference in value).

Between 1999 and 2020: Cell service experienced an average inflation rate of -2.84% per year. This rate of change indicates significant deflation. In other words, cell service costing $50 in the year 1999 would cost $27.32 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.10% during this same period, inflation for cell service was significantly lower.

In the year 1999: Pricing changed by -10.71%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for cell service during the 1999-2020 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1999 (2.19%), inflation for cell service was much lower.

Price Inflation for Wireless telephone services since 1997

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 1999 (-10.71%), 2017 (-10.68%), and 2000 (-10.54%).

Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Wireless 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
CPI	100.000	95.123	84.938	75.985	68.131	67.377	66.823	66.215	64.977	64.554	64.383	64.240	64.257	62.395	60.147	59.678	58.617	57.378	55.216	54.679	48.840	47.596	46.393	46.404

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Buying power of $50 since 1999

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Cell service, over time, for $50 beginning in 1999. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1999	$50.00	-10.71%
2000	$44.73	-10.54%
2001	$40.11	-10.34%
2002	$39.66	-1.11%
2003	$39.34	-0.82%
2004	$38.98	-0.91%
2005	$38.25	-1.87%
2006	$38.00	-0.65%
2007	$37.90	-0.26%
2008	$37.82	-0.22%
2009	$37.83	0.03%
2010	$36.73	-2.90%
2011	$35.41	-3.60%
2012	$35.13	-0.78%
2013	$34.51	-1.78%
2014	$33.78	-2.11%
2015	$32.50	-3.77%
2016	$32.19	-0.97%
2017	$28.75	-10.68%
2018	$28.02	-2.55%
2019	$27.31	-2.53%
2020	$27.32	0.02%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.

How to calculate the inflation rate for cell service, 1999-2020

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2020 / CPI in 1999 * 1999 USD value = 2020 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Wireless telephone services was 84.938 in the year 1999 and 46.404 in 2020:

46.404 / 84.938 * $50 = $27.32

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $50 in 1999 has the same "purchasing power" as $27.32 in 2020 (in the CPI category of Wireless telephone services).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Wireless telephone services in 1997. In addition to cell service, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.