Audio equipment price inflation, 2025→2026

Audio Equipment Inflation Calculator

Prices for Audio Equipment, 2025-2026 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for audio equipment are 3.62% higher in 2026 versus 2025 (a $0.72 difference in value).

Between 2025 and 2026: Audio equipment experienced an average inflation rate of 3.62% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, audio equipment costing $20 in the year 2025 would cost $20.72 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 0.66% during this same period, inflation for audio equipment was higher.

In the year 2025: Pricing changed by 7.52%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for audio equipment during the 2025-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2025 (2.65%), inflation for audio equipment was much higher.

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 2025

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Audio equipment, over time, for $20 beginning in 2025. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
2025	$20.00	7.52%
2026	$20.72	3.62%*

* 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	2025	2026
CPI	89.700	92.375	95.558	97.683	100.850	101.992	100.300	97.708	94.408	91.733	93.042	92.650	92.800	93.150	94.617	94.367	93.875	93.783	92.050	90.725	88.942	85.175	81.708	80.158	77.175	73.358	69.500	65.967	60.558	57.342	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	26.809	25.468	25.576	25.571	24.854	26.723	27.691

Adjust audio equipment prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 2025 * 2025 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Audio equipment was 26.723 in the year 2025 and 27.691 in 2026:

27.691 / 26.723 * $20 = $20.72

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 2025 has the same "purchasing power" as $20.72 in 2026 (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.