Audio equipment priced at $20 in 1985 $5.47 in 2023

Audio Equipment Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Audio Equipment, 1985-2023 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for audio equipment are 72.64% lower in 2023 versus 1985 (a $14.53 difference in value).

Between 1985 and 2023: Audio equipment experienced an average inflation rate of -3.35% per year. This rate of change indicates significant deflation. In other words, audio equipment costing $20 in the year 1985 would cost $5.47 in 2023 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.77% during this same period, inflation for audio equipment was significantly lower.

In the year 1985: Pricing changed by -3.38%, which is below the average yearly change for audio equipment during the 1985-2023 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1985 (3.55%), inflation for audio equipment was much lower.

Price Inflation for Audio equipment since 1977

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2018 (-13.87%), 2017 (-8.28%), and 2005 (-8.20%).

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Buying power of $20.00 since 1985

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Audio equipment, over time, for $20 beginning in 1985. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1985$20.00-3.38%
1986$19.43-2.83%
1987$19.711.42%
1988$19.63-0.41%
1989$19.660.16%
1990$19.730.38%
1991$20.041.57%
1992$19.99-0.26%
1993$19.89-0.52%
1994$19.87-0.10%
1995$19.50-1.85%
1996$19.22-1.45%
1997$18.84-1.97%
1998$18.04-4.23%
1999$17.31-4.07%
2000$16.98-1.89%
2001$16.35-3.72%
2002$15.54-4.94%
2003$14.72-5.26%
2004$13.98-5.08%
2005$12.83-8.20%
2006$12.15-5.32%
2007$11.47-5.60%
2008$10.92-4.73%
2009$10.36-5.14%
2010$10.03-3.22%
2011$9.56-4.65%
2012$8.90-6.91%
2013$8.46-4.98%
2014$8.05-4.79%
2015$7.63-5.29%
2016$7.25-4.94%
2017$6.65-8.28%
2018$5.73-13.87%
2019$5.770.81%
2020$5.68-1.64%
2021$5.40-5.01%
2022$5.420.42%
2023$5.470.98%*

* 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:

Year19771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
CPI89.70092.37795.55497.685100.846101.992100.30097.70894.40891.73893.03892.65492.80093.15494.61594.36993.87793.78592.05490.72388.93885.17781.70880.16277.17773.36269.50065.96960.56257.33854.13051.56848.91947.34245.14042.02139.92738.01436.00334.22631.39327.03827.25626.81025.46825.57625.826

Adjust audio equipment prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2023 / CPI in 1985 * 1985 USD value = 2023 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Audio equipment was 94.408 in the year 1985 and 25.826 in 2023:

25.826 / 94.408 * $20 = $5.47

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1985 has the same "purchasing power" as $5.47 in 2023 (in the CPI category of Audio equipment).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Audio equipment in 1977. In addition to audio equipment, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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