College textbooks priced at $20 in 2002 $46.41 in 2023

College Textbooks Inflation Calculator

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Prices for College Textbooks, 2002-2023 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for college textbooks are 132.03% higher in 2023 versus 2002 (a $26.41 difference in value).

Between 2002 and 2023: College textbooks experienced an average inflation rate of 4.09% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, college textbooks costing $20 in the year 2002 would cost $46.41 in 2023 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.53% during this same period, inflation for college textbooks was higher.

In the year 2002: Pricing changed by 4.18%, which is above the average yearly change for college textbooks during the 2002-2023 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2002 (1.59%), inflation for college textbooks was higher.

Price Inflation for College textbooks since 2001

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2007 (8.31%), 2009 (7.52%), and 2008 (7.52%).

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Buying power of $20.00 since 2002

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for College textbooks, over time, for $20 beginning in 2002. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
2002$20.004.18%
2003$21.316.53%
2004$22.174.06%
2005$23.094.14%
2006$24.566.39%
2007$26.608.31%
2008$28.607.52%
2009$30.757.52%
2010$32.405.36%
2011$34.055.08%
2012$36.416.94%
2013$38.726.36%
2014$40.243.91%
2015$42.625.92%
2016$44.965.51%
2017$46.142.61%
2018$46.580.95%
2019$45.48-2.36%
2020$44.78-1.54%
2021$45.220.98%
2022$47.214.40%
2023$46.41-1.70%*

* 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 College textbooks:

Year20012002200320042005200620072008200920102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
CPI100.000104.177110.985115.492120.269127.954138.580148.995160.195168.777177.345189.644201.704209.591221.992234.216240.337242.626236.901233.253235.548245.905241.718

Adjust college textbooks prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2023 / CPI in 2002 * 2002 USD value = 2023 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for College textbooks was 104.177 in the year 2002 and 241.718 in 2023:

241.718 / 104.177 * $20 = $46.41

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 2002 has the same "purchasing power" as $46.41 in 2023 (in the CPI category of College textbooks).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for College textbooks in 2001. In addition to college textbooks, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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