Photography supplies price inflation, 2004→2016

Photography Supplies Inflation Calculator

Prices for Photography Supplies, 2004-2016 ($100)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for film and photographic supplies are 42.76% higher in 2016 versus 2004 (a $42.76 difference in value).

Between 2004 and 2016:Photography supplies experienced an average inflation rate of 3.01% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, photography supplies costing $100 in the year 2004 would cost $142.76 in 2016 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.02% during this same period, inflation for photography supplies was higher.

In the year 2004: Pricing changed by -3.16%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for photography supplies during the 2004-2016 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2004 (2.68%), inflation for photography supplies was much lower.

Price Inflation for Film and photographic supplies since 1997

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics

Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2014 (25.47%), 2012 (9.27%), and 2004 (-3.16%).

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Buying power of $100.00 since 2004

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Photography supplies, over time, for $100 beginning in 2004. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
2004	$100.00	-3.16%
2005	$99.85	-0.15%
2006	$97.04	-2.81%
2007	$96.91	-0.14%
2008	$98.26	1.40%
2009	$100.18	1.96%
2010	$101.28	1.10%
2011	$103.18	1.87%
2012	$112.74	9.27%
2013	$112.48	-0.22%
2014	$141.14	25.47%
2015	$142.17	0.73%
2016	$142.76	0.42%*

* 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 Film and photographic supplies:

Year	1997	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014	2015	2016
CPI	100.000	100.217	98.800	97.083	96.525	94.275	91.400	88.508	88.375	85.892	85.770	86.968	88.671	89.644	91.319	99.782	99.558	124.919	125.830	126.353

Adjust photography supplies prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2016 / CPI in 2004* 2004 USD value = 2016 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Film and photographic supplies was 88.508 in the year 2004 and 126.353 in 2016:

126.353 / 88.508* $100 = $142.76

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $100 in 2004 has the same "purchasing power" as $142.76 in 2016 (in the CPI category of Film and photographic supplies).

Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Film and photographic supplies in 1997. In addition to photography supplies, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.