Internet services price inflation, 1997→2023

Internet Services Inflation Calculator

Prices for Internet Services, 1997-2023 ($50)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for internet services and electronic information providers are 16.59% lower in 2023 versus 1997 (a $8.30 difference in value).

Between 1997 and 2023: Internet services experienced an average inflation rate of -0.70% per year. In other words, internet services costing $50 in the year 1997 would cost $41.70 in 2023 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.48% during this same period, inflation for internet services was significantly lower.

Price Inflation for Internet services and electronic information providers since 1997

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

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2007 (-20.53%), 1999 (-9.98%), and 2000 (4.50%).

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Buying power of $50.00 since 1997

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Internet services, over time, for $50 beginning in 1997. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
1997	$50.00	-
1998	$51.23	2.46%
1999	$46.12	-9.98%
2000	$48.19	4.50%
2001	$49.03	1.74%
2002	$49.45	0.86%
2003	$49.90	0.92%
2004	$48.68	-2.45%
2005	$47.85	-1.70%
2006	$46.08	-3.70%
2007	$36.62	-20.53%
2008	$36.96	0.91%
2009	$38.27	3.55%
2010	$38.51	0.64%
2011	$38.15	-0.94%
2012	$38.24	0.24%
2013	$38.60	0.92%
2014	$39.03	1.14%
2015	$38.76	-0.70%
2016	$38.71	-0.15%
2017	$38.27	-1.13%
2018	$37.98	-0.76%
2019	$38.55	1.50%
2020	$39.10	1.43%
2021	$39.67	1.47%
2022	$40.32	1.64%
2023	$41.70	3.43%*

* 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 Internet services and electronic information providers:

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
CPI	100.000	102.462	92.238	96.385	98.062	98.900	99.808	97.362	95.708	92.169	73.247	73.912	76.535	77.027	76.302	76.487	77.190	78.069	77.524	77.411	76.534	75.954	77.090	78.194	79.340	80.642	83.407

Adjust internet services prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2023 / CPI in 1997 * 1997 USD value = 2023 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Internet services and electronic information providers was 100.000 in the year 1997 and 83.407 in 2023:

83.407 / 100.000 * $50 = $41.70

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $50 in 1997 has the same "purchasing power" as $41.70 in 2023 (in the CPI category of Internet services and electronic information providers).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Internet services and electronic information providers in 1997. In addition to internet services, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.