According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for information technology, hardware and services were 92.72% lower in 2021 versus 1988 (a $18.54 difference in value).
Between 1988 and 2021: Information technology, hardware and services experienced an average inflation rate of -7.63% per year. This rate of change indicates significant deflation. In other words, information technology, hardware and services costing $20 in the year 1988 would cost $1.46 in 2021 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.43% during this same period, inflation for information technology, hardware and services was significantly lower.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Information technology, hardware and services:
| Year | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 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 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 96.277 | 93.485 | 88.638 | 83.685 | 78.823 | 71.969 | 63.823 | 57.231 | 50.077 | 39.869 | 30.538 | 25.892 | 21.338 | 18.285 | 16.138 | 14.808 | 13.608 | 12.454 | 10.597 | 10.061 | 9.672 | 9.413 | 9.030 | 8.739 | 8.516 | 8.352 | 8.053 | 7.806 | 7.619 | 7.467 | 7.386 | 7.322 | 7.280 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Information technology, hardware and services, over time, for $20 beginning in 1988. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | $20.00 | - |
| 1989 | $19.26 | -3.72% |
| 1990 | $18.70 | -2.90% |
| 1991 | $17.73 | -5.18% |
| 1992 | $16.74 | -5.59% |
| 1993 | $15.76 | -5.81% |
| 1994 | $14.39 | -8.70% |
| 1995 | $12.76 | -11.32% |
| 1996 | $11.45 | -10.33% |
| 1997 | $10.02 | -12.50% |
| 1998 | $7.97 | -20.38% |
| 1999 | $6.11 | -23.40% |
| 2000 | $5.18 | -15.21% |
| 2001 | $4.27 | -17.59% |
| 2002 | $3.66 | -14.31% |
| 2003 | $3.23 | -11.74% |
| 2004 | $2.96 | -8.25% |
| 2005 | $2.72 | -8.10% |
| 2006 | $2.49 | -8.48% |
| 2007 | $2.12 | -14.91% |
| 2008 | $2.01 | -5.06% |
| 2009 | $1.93 | -3.87% |
| 2010 | $1.88 | -2.68% |
| 2011 | $1.81 | -4.07% |
| 2012 | $1.75 | -3.23% |
| 2013 | $1.70 | -2.55% |
| 2014 | $1.67 | -1.93% |
| 2015 | $1.61 | -3.57% |
| 2016 | $1.56 | -3.07% |
| 2017 | $1.52 | -2.40% |
| 2018 | $1.49 | -1.99% |
| 2019 | $1.48 | -1.09% |
| 2020 | $1.46 | -0.87% |
| 2021 | $1.46 | -0.57%* |