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  "description": "CTIA’s wireless affordability tracker shows faster speeds and lower data costs.\n",
  "path": "/wireless-prices-fall-as-inflation-rises-ctia-finds/",
  "publishedAt": "2026-05-01T19:17:22.000Z",
  "site": "https://broadbandbreakfast.com",
  "tags": [
    "a new report",
    "Learn more about the Broadband Community...",
    "Start Your Broadband Journey Here",
    "affordability worsened in 2025"
  ],
  "textContent": "May 1, 2026 – Wireless prices in the United States are continuing to fall even as inflation pushes most other consumer costs higher, according to a new report released by CTIA, the wireless industry association.\n\nThe latest Wireless Affordability Tracker found Americans are paying less for mobile service in real terms while getting faster speeds and more data.\n\n“Wireless is one of the great consumer success stories of our time,” said**Ajit Pai** , CTIA President and CEO. “Prices are down, speeds are up, and the value Americans get from their wireless service has never been greater.”\n\nLearn more about the Broadband Community...\n\n\n                            Start Your Broadband Journey Here\n                        \n\nThe report shows inflation-adjusted prices for typical unlimited plans fell more than 10 percent in the past year and are down about 35 percent over five years. Prepaid plans saw even steeper declines, dropping more than 51 percent over the same period.\n\nA typical unlimited plan now averages about $55 per month, while some prepaid options cost less than $10.\n\nGovernment data supports the trend. The Consumer Price Index shows wireless service prices declined 6.6 percent last year and more than 41 percent over the past decade.\n\nThat stands in contrast to the broader economy, where prices rose about 2.7 percent last year.\n\nThe broader picture for internet affordability is more mixed. Broadband affordability worsened in 2025 after a federal subsidy that once helped roughly one in six households expired, alongside policy changes that reduced affordability requirements.\n\nWireless service now accounts for about 1.7 percent of household spending, a share that has declined more than 15 percent since 2020.\n\nAt the same time, performance is improving. Wireless download speeds increased 51 percent in the past year, while data usage rose more than 32 percent.\n\nThe effective price per gigabyte fell more than 21 percent last year and 40 percent over two years.\n\nTaken together, those trends mean consumers are getting more value for each dollar spent.\n\nCTIA attributed the gains to competition and continued investment in network infrastructure, including the expansion of 5G services.\n\nThat competition is also extending into home broadband. Fixed wireless services added millions of subscribers in 2025 and contributed to a roughly 3 percent decline in home internet prices, according to the report.\n\nTaxes and fees are also offsetting some savings. Wireless taxes now account for about 27.6 percent of the average bill.",
  "title": "Wireless Prices Fall as Inflation Rises, CTIA Finds",
  "updatedAt": "2026-05-21T21:49:54.545Z"
}