Communication price inflation, 1993→2023

Communication Inflation Calculator

Prices for Communication, 1993-2023 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for communication are 22.05% lower in 2023 versus 1993 (a $4.41 difference in value).

Between 1993 and 2023: Communication experienced an average inflation rate of -0.83% per year. In other words, communication costing $20 in the year 1993 would cost $15.59 in 2023 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.50% 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: 2017 (-5.34%), 2004 (-3.36%), and 2003 (-2.80%).

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Buying power of $20.00 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	0.85%
1995	$20.43	1.31%
1996	$20.59	0.76%
1997	$20.74	0.73%
1998	$20.40	-1.66%
1999	$19.84	-2.71%
2000	$19.34	-2.53%
2001	$19.30	-0.24%
2002	$19.08	-1.11%
2003	$18.55	-2.80%
2004	$17.92	-3.36%
2005	$17.52	-2.26%
2006	$17.39	-0.71%
2007	$17.24	-0.91%
2008	$17.40	0.98%
2009	$17.56	0.91%
2010	$17.51	-0.32%
2011	$17.23	-1.58%
2012	$17.17	-0.34%
2013	$17.08	-0.54%
2014	$16.97	-0.67%
2015	$16.58	-2.26%
2016	$16.38	-1.21%
2017	$15.51	-5.34%
2018	$15.27	-1.52%
2019	$15.13	-0.92%
2020	$15.40	1.79%
2021	$15.68	1.84%
2022	$15.60	-0.56%
2023	$15.59	-0.04%*

* 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 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	2021	2022	2023
CPI	96.738	97.562	98.838	99.592	100.315	98.654	95.985	93.554	93.331	92.292	89.708	86.692	84.731	84.131	83.367	84.185	84.954	84.681	83.345	83.060	82.613	82.063	80.208	79.236	75.004	73.862	73.183	74.491	75.860	75.437	75.406

Adjust communication prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2023 / CPI in 1993 * 1993 USD value = 2023 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Communication was 96.738 in the year 1993 and 75.406 in 2023:

75.406 / 96.738 * $20 = $15.59

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1993 has the same "purchasing power" as $15.59 in 2023 (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.