According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for education and communication are 53.73% higher in 2025 versus 1996 (a $8,059.89 difference in value).
Between 1996 and 2025: Education and communication experienced an average inflation rate of 1.49% per year. In other words, education and communication costing $15,000 in the year 1996 would cost $23,059.89 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.50% during this same period, inflation for education and communication was lower.
In the year 1996: Pricing changed by 3.40%, which is above the average yearly change for education and communication during the 1996-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1996 (2.93%), inflation for education and communication was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Education and communication, over time, for $15,000 beginning in 1996. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1996 | $15,000.00 | 3.40% |
| 1997 | $15,490.24 | 3.27% |
| 1998 | $15,780.75 | 1.88% |
| 1999 | $15,921.16 | 0.89% |
| 2000 | $16,130.57 | 1.32% |
| 2001 | $16,560.28 | 2.66% |
| 2002 | $16,977.89 | 2.52% |
| 2003 | $17,275.66 | 1.75% |
| 2004 | $17,558.91 | 1.64% |
| 2005 | $17,889.36 | 1.88% |
| 2006 | $18,374.76 | 2.71% |
| 2007 | $18,816.54 | 2.40% |
| 2008 | $19,454.58 | 3.39% |
| 2009 | $20,046.56 | 3.04% |
| 2010 | $20,444.02 | 1.98% |
| 2011 | $20,687.50 | 1.19% |
| 2012 | $21,061.68 | 1.81% |
| 2013 | $21,383.01 | 1.53% |
| 2014 | $21,639.76 | 1.20% |
| 2015 | $21,748.44 | 0.50% |
| 2016 | $21,893.95 | 0.67% |
| 2017 | $21,480.65 | -1.89% |
| 2018 | $21,524.65 | 0.20% |
| 2019 | $21,682.53 | 0.73% |
| 2020 | $22,077.53 | 1.82% |
| 2021 | $22,441.41 | 1.65% |
| 2022 | $22,628.41 | 0.83% |
| 2023 | $22,847.47 | 0.97% |
| 2024 | $22,984.36 | 0.60% |
| 2025 | $23,059.89 | 0.33%* |
* 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 Education and 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 | 2024 | 2025 |
| CPI | 85.469 | 88.777 | 92.192 | 95.323 | 98.438 | 100.285 | 101.177 | 102.508 | 105.238 | 107.892 | 109.785 | 111.585 | 113.685 | 116.769 | 119.577 | 123.631 | 127.393 | 129.919 | 131.466 | 133.844 | 135.886 | 137.518 | 138.209 | 139.133 | 136.507 | 136.786 | 137.790 | 140.300 | 142.612 | 143.801 | 145.193 | 146.063 | 146.543 |