Postage inflation
Postage prices since 2000
Up 167%
An average of 3.84% a year, compared with 95% for all U.S. prices (overall CPI). $100 of 2000 postage costs $267.39 in August 2026.
Last 12 months (to August 2026)
12.7%
All U.S. prices, same period
3.4%
Data since
1935
How much postage prices have risen
| Since | Postage | All U.S. prices | $100 then costs now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1950 | +2,712% | +1,290% | $2,811.83 |
| 1970 | +1,165% | +763% | $1,264.92 |
| 1980 | +479% | +307% | $579.34 |
| 1990 | +253% | +156% | $352.88 |
| 2000 | +167% | +95% | $267.39 |
| 2010 | +92% | +54% | $192.07 |
| 2020 | +38% | +29% | $138.13 |
Calculate postage inflation
Inflation rate by year
Every year since 1935
| Year | Index | Change | $1 then costs now |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 393.4 | 4.3% | $1.12 |
| 2024 | 377.0 | 5.3% | $1.17 |
| 2023 | 358.0 | 4.4% | $1.23 |
| 2022 | 343.0 | 3.2% | $1.29 |
| 2021 | 332.3 | 4.0% | $1.33 |
| 2020 | 319.6 | 4.4% | $1.38 |
| 2019 | 306.1 | 5.7% | $1.44 |
| 2018 | 289.6 | 2.1% | $1.52 |
| 2017 | 283.7 | 2.6% | $1.56 |
| 2016 | 276.6 | 0.8% | $1.60 |
| 2015 | 274.5 | 0.3% | $1.61 |
| 2014 | 273.7 | 4.2% | $1.61 |
| 2013 | 262.6 | 6.3% | $1.68 |
| 2012 | 247.1 | 3.5% | $1.79 |
| 2011 | 238.7 | 3.9% | $1.85 |
| 2010 | 229.8 | 2.8% | $1.92 |
| 2009 | 223.6 | 4.9% | $1.97 |
| 2008 | 213.1 | 3.4% | $2.07 |
| 2007 | 206.1 | 2.5% | $2.14 |
| 2006 | 201.1 | 5.3% | $2.20 |
| 2005 | 190.9 | 0.0% | $2.31 |
| 2004 | 190.9 | 0.0% | $2.31 |
| 2003 | 190.9 | 5.0% | $2.31 |
| 2002 | 181.8 | 6.0% | $2.43 |
| 2001 | 171.5 | 3.9% | $2.57 |
| 2000 | 165.1 | 0.0% | $2.67 |
| 1999 | 165.1 | 3.0% | $2.67 |
| 1998 | 160.3 | 0.0% | $2.75 |
| 1997 | 160.3 | 0.0% | $2.75 |
| 1996 | 160.3 | 0.0% | $2.75 |
| 1995 | 160.3 | 10.3% | $2.75 |
| 1994 | 145.3 | 0.0% | $3.04 |
| 1993 | 145.3 | 0.0% | $3.04 |
| 1992 | 145.3 | 1.2% | $3.04 |
| 1991 | 143.6 | 14.8% | $3.07 |
| 1990 | 125.1 | 0.0% | $3.53 |
| 1989 | 125.1 | 3.0% | $3.53 |
| 1988 | 121.4 | 10.2% | $3.64 |
| 1987 | 110.2 | 0.0% | $4.01 |
| 1986 | 110.2 | 1.3% | $4.01 |
| 1985 | 108.8 | 8.8% | $4.06 |
| 1984 | 100.0 | 0.0% | $4.41 |
| 1983 | 100.0 | 0.0% | $4.41 |
| 1982 | 100.0 | 11.9% | $4.41 |
| 1981 | 89.4 | 17.3% | $4.94 |
| 1980 | 76.2 | 0.0% | $5.79 |
| 1979 | 76.2 | 5.4% | $5.79 |
| 1978 | 72.3 | 8.2% | $6.11 |
| 1977 | 66.8 | 1.4% | $6.61 |
| 1976 | 65.9 | 26.7% | $6.70 |
| 1975 | 52.0 | 3.0% | $8.49 |
| 1974 | 50.5 | 16.4% | $8.74 |
| 1973 | 43.4 | 0.0% | $10.17 |
| 1972 | 43.4 | 6.1% | $10.17 |
| 1971 | 40.9 | 17.2% | $10.79 |
| 1970 | 34.9 | 0.6% | $12.65 |
| 1969 | 34.7 | 3.0% | $12.72 |
| 1968 | 33.7 | 13.9% | $13.10 |
| 1967 | 29.6 | 2.8% | $14.91 |
| 1966 | 28.8 | 0.7% | $15.33 |
| 1965 | 28.6 | 0.7% | $15.44 |
| 1964 | 28.4 | 3.3% | $15.54 |
| 1963 | 27.5 | 15.1% | $16.05 |
| 1962 | 23.9 | 0.8% | $18.47 |
| 1961 | 23.7 | 0.9% | $18.63 |
| 1960 | 23.5 | 3.5% | $18.79 |
| 1959 | 22.7 | 9.1% | $19.45 |
| 1958 | 20.8 | 7.2% | $21.22 |
| 1957 | 19.4 | 0.5% | $22.76 |
| 1956 | 19.3 | 0.0% | $22.87 |
| 1955 | 19.3 | 0.0% | $22.87 |
| 1954 | 19.3 | 7.2% | $22.87 |
| 1953 | 18.0 | 1.7% | $24.53 |
| 1952 | 17.7 | 9.9% | $24.94 |
| 1951 | 16.1 | 2.5% | $27.42 |
| 1950 | 15.7 | 0.6% | $28.12 |
| 1949 | 15.6 | 7.6% | $28.30 |
| 1948 | 14.5 | 0.0% | $30.45 |
| 1947 | 14.5 | -1.4% | $30.45 |
| 1946 | 14.7 | -0.7% | $30.03 |
| 1945 | 14.8 | 4.2% | $29.83 |
| 1944 | 14.2 | 10.1% | $31.09 |
| 1943 | 12.9 | 0.0% | $34.22 |
| 1942 | 12.9 | 0.0% | $34.22 |
| 1941 | 12.9 | 0.0% | $34.22 |
| 1940 | 12.9 | 0.0% | $34.22 |
| 1939 | 12.9 | 0.0% | $34.22 |
| 1938 | 12.9 | 0.0% | $34.22 |
| 1937 | 12.9 | 0.0% | $34.22 |
| 1936 | 12.9 | 0.0% | $34.22 |
| 1935 | 12.9 | $34.22 |
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U series CUUR0000SEEC01, not seasonally adjusted. Index values are relative (only the changes matter), so they can't be compared across categories.
Questions
- How much have postage prices gone up since 2000?
- Postage prices rose 167% from 2000 to August 2026, faster than overall prices (95%).
- What is the inflation rate for postage right now?
- Postage prices were 12.7% higher in August 2026 than a year earlier.
- What did $100 of postage in 2000 cost in August 2026?
- $267.39.
- Where does this data come from?
- The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics price index for postage (series CUUR0000SEEC01), part of the Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers. It tracks price changes for the same kind of item over time, not average prices.