According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for legal services were 184.56% higher in 2020 versus 1991 (a $7,382.31 difference in value).
Between 1991 and 2020: Legal services experienced an average inflation rate of 3.67% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, legal services costing $4,000 in the year 1991 would cost $11,382.31 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.24% during this same period, inflation for legal services was higher.
In the year 1991: Pricing changed by 5.72%, which is above the average yearly change for legal services during the 1991-2020 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1991 (4.23%), inflation for legal services was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Legal services, over time, for $4,000 beginning in 1991. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
---|---|---|
1991 | $4,000.00 | 5.72% |
1992 | $4,204.93 | 5.12% |
1993 | $4,382.07 | 4.21% |
1994 | $4,530.48 | 3.39% |
1995 | $4,680.80 | 3.32% |
1996 | $4,849.15 | 3.60% |
1997 | $5,057.17 | 4.29% |
1998 | $5,299.38 | 4.79% |
1999 | $5,555.83 | 4.84% |
2000 | $5,844.82 | 5.20% |
2001 | $6,157.55 | 5.35% |
2002 | $6,515.17 | 5.81% |
2003 | $6,844.05 | 5.05% |
2004 | $7,169.84 | 4.76% |
2005 | $7,462.87 | 4.09% |
2006 | $7,717.66 | 3.41% |
2007 | $8,034.56 | 4.11% |
2008 | $8,357.23 | 4.02% |
2009 | $8,586.29 | 2.74% |
2010 | $8,894.48 | 3.59% |
2011 | $9,181.49 | 3.23% |
2012 | $9,367.86 | 2.03% |
2013 | $9,625.70 | 2.75% |
2014 | $9,831.76 | 2.14% |
2015 | $9,988.13 | 1.59% |
2016 | $10,325.24 | 3.38% |
2017 | $10,693.00 | 3.56% |
2018 | $11,151.50 | 4.29% |
2019 | $11,259.83 | 0.97% |
2020 | $11,382.31 | 1.09% |
2021 | $11,557.02 | 1.53% |
2022 | $12,317.93 | 6.58% |
2023 | $13,085.18 | 6.23% |
2024 | $13,943.16 | 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 |