Internet services inflation, 1997–2026

Prices are 12.10% lower than in 1997, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Internet Services Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Internet Services, 1997-2026 ($50)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for internet services and electronic information providers are 12.10% lower in 2026 versus 1997 (a $6.05 difference in value).

Between 1997 and 2026, Internet services experienced an average inflation rate of -0.44% per year. In other words, internet services costing $50 in the year 1997 would cost $43.95 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.53% during this same period, inflation for internet services was 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 (-9.97%), and 2000 (4.49%).

Internet services prices are up 1.5% over the past year, but your own inflation rate depends on everything you buy. The personal inflation calculator works it out from your budget.

View price changes for other categories
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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:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1997$50.00-
1998$51.232.46%
1999$46.12-9.97%
2000$48.194.49%
2001$49.031.74%
2002$49.450.86%
2003$49.900.92%
2004$48.68-2.45%
2005$47.85-1.69%
2006$46.08-3.70%
2007$36.62-20.53%
2008$36.960.91%
2009$38.273.55%
2010$38.510.64%
2011$38.15-0.94%
2012$38.240.24%
2013$38.600.92%
2014$39.031.14%
2015$38.76-0.70%
2016$38.71-0.15%
2017$38.27-1.13%
2018$37.98-0.76%
2019$38.551.50%
2020$39.101.43%
2021$39.671.47%
2022$40.321.64%
2023$41.843.76%
2024$43.072.95%
2025$42.86-0.47%
2026$43.952.53%*

* 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:

Year199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023202420252026
CPI100.000102.45892.24296.38398.05898.90099.80897.35895.70892.16773.24773.91276.53577.02776.30276.48777.19078.06977.52477.41176.53475.95477.09078.19479.34080.64283.67086.13685.72887.901

Adjust internet services prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 1997* 1997 USD value = 2026 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 87.901 in 2026:

87.901 / 100.000* $50 = $43.95

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $50 in 1997 has the same "purchasing power" as $43.95 in 2026 (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.