According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for wireless telephone services are 29.53% lower in 2024 versus 2003 (a $14.77 difference in value).
Between 2003 and 2024: Cell service experienced an average inflation rate of -1.65% per year. In other words, cell service costing $50 in the year 2003 would cost $35.23 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.57% during this same period, inflation for cell service was significantly lower.
In the year 2003: Pricing changed by -0.82%, which is above the average yearly change for cell service during the 2003-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2003 (2.27%), inflation for cell service was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Cell service, over time, for $50 beginning in 2003. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | $50.00 | -0.82% |
| 2004 | $49.55 | -0.91% |
| 2005 | $48.62 | -1.87% |
| 2006 | $48.30 | -0.65% |
| 2007 | $48.17 | -0.26% |
| 2008 | $48.07 | -0.22% |
| 2009 | $48.08 | 0.03% |
| 2010 | $46.69 | -2.90% |
| 2011 | $45.00 | -3.60% |
| 2012 | $44.65 | -0.78% |
| 2013 | $43.86 | -1.78% |
| 2014 | $42.93 | -2.11% |
| 2015 | $41.31 | -3.77% |
| 2016 | $40.91 | -0.97% |
| 2017 | $36.54 | -10.68% |
| 2018 | $35.61 | -2.55% |
| 2019 | $34.71 | -2.53% |
| 2020 | $35.41 | 2.02% |
| 2021 | $36.03 | 1.75% |
| 2022 | $35.87 | -0.45% |
| 2023 | $35.76 | -0.32% |
| 2024 | $35.23 | -1.46%* |
* 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 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 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| 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 | 47.329 | 48.156 | 47.937 | 47.785 | 47.090 |