Communication price history from 1993 through 2020

Communication Inflation Calculator

Prices for Communication, 1993-2020 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for communication were 22.99% lower in 2020 versus 1993 (a $4.60 difference in value).

Between 1993 and 2020: Communication experienced an average inflation rate of -0.96% per year. In other words, communication costing $20 in the year 1993 would cost $15.40 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.18% during this same period, inflation for communication was significantly lower.

Price Inflation for Communication since 1993

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

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2018 (-26.38%), 2020 (1.79%), and 1995 (1.30%).

Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Communication:

Year	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
CPI	96.733	97.567	98.833	99.600	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	100.333	73.862	73.183	74.491

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Buying power of $20 since 1993

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Communication, over time, for $20 beginning in 1993. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1993	$20.00	-
1994	$20.17	0.86%
1995	$20.43	1.30%
1996	$20.59	0.78%
1997	$20.74	0.74%
1998	$20.74	0.00%
1999	$20.74	0.00%
2000	$20.74	0.00%
2001	$20.74	0.00%
2002	$20.74	0.00%
2003	$20.74	0.00%
2004	$20.74	0.00%
2005	$20.74	0.00%
2006	$20.74	0.00%
2007	$20.74	0.00%
2008	$20.74	0.00%
2009	$20.74	0.00%
2010	$20.74	0.00%
2011	$20.74	0.00%
2012	$20.74	0.00%
2013	$20.74	0.00%
2014	$20.74	0.00%
2015	$20.74	0.00%
2016	$20.74	0.00%
2017	$20.74	0.00%
2018	$15.27	-26.38%
2019	$15.13	-0.92%
2020	$15.40	1.79%*

* Not final. See inflation summary for latest details.

How to calculate the inflation rate for communication, 1993-2020

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2020 / CPI in 1993 * 1993 USD value = 2020 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Communication was 96.733 in the year 1993 and 74.491 in 2020:

74.491 / 96.733 * $20 = $15.40

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1993 has the same "purchasing power" as $15.40 in 2020 (in the CPI category of Communication).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Communication in 1993. In addition to communication, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.