According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for audio equipment are 73.05% lower in 2024 versus 1978 (a $14.61 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2024: Audio equipment experienced an average inflation rate of -2.81% per year. This rate of change indicates significant deflation. In other words, audio equipment costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $5.39 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for audio equipment was significantly lower.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 2.98%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for audio equipment during the 1978-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for audio equipment was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Audio equipment, over time, for $20 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | 2.98% |
| 1979 | $20.69 | 3.44% |
| 1980 | $21.15 | 2.23% |
| 1981 | $21.83 | 3.24% |
| 1982 | $22.08 | 1.14% |
| 1983 | $21.72 | -1.66% |
| 1984 | $21.15 | -2.58% |
| 1985 | $20.44 | -3.38% |
| 1986 | $19.86 | -2.83% |
| 1987 | $20.14 | 1.42% |
| 1988 | $20.06 | -0.41% |
| 1989 | $20.09 | 0.16% |
| 1990 | $20.17 | 0.38% |
| 1991 | $20.48 | 1.57% |
| 1992 | $20.43 | -0.26% |
| 1993 | $20.32 | -0.52% |
| 1994 | $20.30 | -0.10% |
| 1995 | $19.93 | -1.85% |
| 1996 | $19.64 | -1.45% |
| 1997 | $19.26 | -1.97% |
| 1998 | $18.44 | -4.23% |
| 1999 | $17.69 | -4.07% |
| 2000 | $17.36 | -1.89% |
| 2001 | $16.71 | -3.72% |
| 2002 | $15.88 | -4.94% |
| 2003 | $15.05 | -5.26% |
| 2004 | $14.28 | -5.08% |
| 2005 | $13.11 | -8.20% |
| 2006 | $12.41 | -5.32% |
| 2007 | $11.72 | -5.60% |
| 2008 | $11.16 | -4.73% |
| 2009 | $10.59 | -5.14% |
| 2010 | $10.25 | -3.22% |
| 2011 | $9.77 | -4.65% |
| 2012 | $9.10 | -6.91% |
| 2013 | $8.64 | -4.98% |
| 2014 | $8.23 | -4.79% |
| 2015 | $7.79 | -5.29% |
| 2016 | $7.41 | -4.94% |
| 2017 | $6.80 | -8.28% |
| 2018 | $5.85 | -13.87% |
| 2019 | $5.90 | 0.81% |
| 2020 | $5.80 | -1.64% |
| 2021 | $5.51 | -5.01% |
| 2022 | $5.54 | 0.42% |
| 2023 | $5.54 | -0.02% |
| 2024 | $5.39 | -2.64%* |
* 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 Audio equipment:
| Year | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 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 | 89.700 | 92.377 | 95.554 | 97.685 | 100.846 | 101.992 | 100.300 | 97.708 | 94.408 | 91.738 | 93.038 | 92.654 | 92.800 | 93.154 | 94.615 | 94.369 | 93.877 | 93.785 | 92.054 | 90.723 | 88.938 | 85.177 | 81.708 | 80.162 | 77.177 | 73.362 | 69.500 | 65.969 | 60.562 | 57.338 | 54.130 | 51.568 | 48.919 | 47.342 | 45.140 | 42.021 | 39.927 | 38.014 | 36.003 | 34.226 | 31.393 | 27.038 | 27.256 | 26.810 | 25.468 | 25.576 | 25.571 | 24.896 |