According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for audio equipment are 73.95% lower in 2024 versus 1979 (a $14.79 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 2024: Audio equipment experienced an average inflation rate of -2.94% per year. This rate of change indicates significant deflation. In other words, audio equipment costing $20 in the year 1979 would cost $5.21 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.30% during this same period, inflation for audio equipment was significantly lower.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 3.44%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for audio equipment during the 1979-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.26%), inflation for audio equipment was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Audio equipment, over time, for $20 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $20.00 | 3.44% |
| 1980 | $20.45 | 2.23% |
| 1981 | $21.11 | 3.24% |
| 1982 | $21.35 | 1.14% |
| 1983 | $20.99 | -1.66% |
| 1984 | $20.45 | -2.58% |
| 1985 | $19.76 | -3.38% |
| 1986 | $19.20 | -2.83% |
| 1987 | $19.47 | 1.42% |
| 1988 | $19.39 | -0.41% |
| 1989 | $19.42 | 0.16% |
| 1990 | $19.50 | 0.38% |
| 1991 | $19.80 | 1.57% |
| 1992 | $19.75 | -0.26% |
| 1993 | $19.65 | -0.52% |
| 1994 | $19.63 | -0.10% |
| 1995 | $19.27 | -1.85% |
| 1996 | $18.99 | -1.45% |
| 1997 | $18.62 | -1.97% |
| 1998 | $17.83 | -4.23% |
| 1999 | $17.10 | -4.07% |
| 2000 | $16.78 | -1.89% |
| 2001 | $16.15 | -3.72% |
| 2002 | $15.36 | -4.94% |
| 2003 | $14.55 | -5.26% |
| 2004 | $13.81 | -5.08% |
| 2005 | $12.68 | -8.20% |
| 2006 | $12.00 | -5.32% |
| 2007 | $11.33 | -5.60% |
| 2008 | $10.79 | -4.73% |
| 2009 | $10.24 | -5.14% |
| 2010 | $9.91 | -3.22% |
| 2011 | $9.45 | -4.65% |
| 2012 | $8.80 | -6.91% |
| 2013 | $8.36 | -4.98% |
| 2014 | $7.96 | -4.79% |
| 2015 | $7.54 | -5.29% |
| 2016 | $7.16 | -4.94% |
| 2017 | $6.57 | -8.28% |
| 2018 | $5.66 | -13.87% |
| 2019 | $5.70 | 0.81% |
| 2020 | $5.61 | -1.64% |
| 2021 | $5.33 | -5.01% |
| 2022 | $5.35 | 0.42% |
| 2023 | $5.35 | -0.02% |
| 2024 | $5.21 | -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 |