According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for college textbooks are 115.51% higher in 2024 versus 2003 (a $23.10 difference in value).
Between 2003 and 2024: College textbooks experienced an average inflation rate of 3.72% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, college textbooks costing $20 in the year 2003 would cost $43.10 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.57% during this same period, inflation for college textbooks was higher.
In the year 2003: Pricing changed by 6.53%, which is above the average yearly change for college textbooks during the 2003-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2003 (2.27%), inflation for college textbooks was much higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for College textbooks, over time, for $20 beginning in 2003. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2003 | $20.00 | 6.53% |
| 2004 | $20.81 | 4.06% |
| 2005 | $21.67 | 4.14% |
| 2006 | $23.06 | 6.39% |
| 2007 | $24.97 | 8.31% |
| 2008 | $26.85 | 7.52% |
| 2009 | $28.87 | 7.52% |
| 2010 | $30.41 | 5.36% |
| 2011 | $31.96 | 5.08% |
| 2012 | $34.17 | 6.94% |
| 2013 | $36.35 | 6.36% |
| 2014 | $37.77 | 3.91% |
| 2015 | $40.00 | 5.92% |
| 2016 | $42.21 | 5.51% |
| 2017 | $43.31 | 2.61% |
| 2018 | $43.72 | 0.95% |
| 2019 | $42.69 | -2.36% |
| 2020 | $42.03 | -1.54% |
| 2021 | $42.45 | 0.98% |
| 2022 | $44.31 | 4.40% |
| 2023 | $43.34 | -2.20% |
| 2024 | $43.10 | -0.55%* |
* 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:
| Year | 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 | 100.000 | 104.177 | 110.985 | 115.492 | 120.269 | 127.954 | 138.580 | 148.995 | 160.195 | 168.777 | 177.345 | 189.644 | 201.704 | 209.591 | 221.992 | 234.216 | 240.337 | 242.626 | 236.901 | 233.253 | 235.548 | 245.905 | 240.493 | 239.181 |