According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for legal services are 351.68% higher in 2024 versus 1986 (a $35,167.80 difference in value).
Between 1986 and 2024: Legal services experienced an average inflation rate of 4.05% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, legal services costing $10,000 in the year 1986 would cost $45,167.80 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.80% during this same period, inflation for legal services was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Legal services, over time, for $10,000 beginning in 1986. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1986 | $10,000.00 | - |
| 1987 | $10,343.85 | 3.44% |
| 1988 | $10,766.15 | 4.08% |
| 1989 | $11,411.54 | 5.99% |
| 1990 | $12,256.15 | 7.40% |
| 1991 | $12,957.69 | 5.72% |
| 1992 | $13,621.54 | 5.12% |
| 1993 | $14,195.38 | 4.21% |
| 1994 | $14,676.15 | 3.39% |
| 1995 | $15,163.08 | 3.32% |
| 1996 | $15,708.46 | 3.60% |
| 1997 | $16,382.31 | 4.29% |
| 1998 | $17,166.92 | 4.79% |
| 1999 | $17,997.69 | 4.84% |
| 2000 | $18,933.85 | 5.20% |
| 2001 | $19,946.92 | 5.35% |
| 2002 | $21,105.38 | 5.81% |
| 2003 | $22,170.77 | 5.05% |
| 2004 | $23,226.15 | 4.76% |
| 2005 | $24,175.38 | 4.09% |
| 2006 | $25,000.77 | 3.41% |
| 2007 | $26,027.32 | 4.11% |
| 2008 | $27,072.59 | 4.02% |
| 2009 | $27,814.62 | 2.74% |
| 2010 | $28,812.99 | 3.59% |
| 2011 | $29,742.73 | 3.23% |
| 2012 | $30,346.47 | 2.03% |
| 2013 | $31,181.70 | 2.75% |
| 2014 | $31,849.23 | 2.14% |
| 2015 | $32,355.78 | 1.59% |
| 2016 | $33,447.82 | 3.38% |
| 2017 | $34,639.14 | 3.56% |
| 2018 | $36,124.44 | 4.29% |
| 2019 | $36,475.36 | 0.97% |
| 2020 | $36,872.13 | 1.09% |
| 2021 | $37,438.08 | 1.53% |
| 2022 | $39,902.98 | 6.58% |
| 2023 | $42,388.43 | 6.23% |
| 2024 | $45,167.80 | 6.56%* |
* 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 Legal services:
| Year | 1986 | 1987 | 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 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 103.438 | 107.662 | 114.115 | 122.562 | 129.577 | 136.215 | 141.954 | 146.762 | 151.631 | 157.085 | 163.823 | 171.669 | 179.977 | 189.338 | 199.469 | 211.054 | 221.708 | 232.262 | 241.754 | 250.008 | 260.273 | 270.726 | 278.146 | 288.130 | 297.427 | 303.465 | 311.817 | 318.492 | 323.558 | 334.478 | 346.391 | 361.244 | 364.754 | 368.721 | 374.381 | 399.030 | 423.884 | 451.678 |