According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for photographic equipment and supplies are 12.19% lower in 2024 versus 1978 (a $2.44 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2024: Photographic equipment and supplies experienced an average inflation rate of -0.28% per year. In other words, photographic equipment and supplies costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $17.56 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for photographic equipment and supplies was significantly lower.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 3.23%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for photographic equipment and supplies during the 1978-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for photographic equipment and supplies was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Photographic equipment and supplies, over time, for $20 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | 3.23% |
| 1979 | $20.88 | 4.41% |
| 1980 | $23.27 | 11.46% |
| 1981 | $24.23 | 4.11% |
| 1982 | $25.03 | 3.31% |
| 1983 | $25.44 | 1.64% |
| 1984 | $25.90 | 1.80% |
| 1985 | $26.35 | 1.74% |
| 1986 | $27.43 | 4.08% |
| 1987 | $29.26 | 6.70% |
| 1988 | $30.62 | 4.64% |
| 1989 | $32.00 | 4.51% |
| 1990 | $32.75 | 2.34% |
| 1991 | $33.34 | 1.79% |
| 1992 | $33.89 | 1.65% |
| 1993 | $34.24 | 1.03% |
| 1994 | $33.69 | -1.62% |
| 1995 | $33.97 | 0.83% |
| 1996 | $34.03 | 0.20% |
| 1997 | $34.12 | 0.25% |
| 1998 | $33.86 | -0.75% |
| 1999 | $33.16 | -2.08% |
| 2000 | $32.17 | -2.98% |
| 2001 | $31.51 | -2.05% |
| 2002 | $30.19 | -4.20% |
| 2003 | $28.66 | -5.08% |
| 2004 | $26.54 | -7.38% |
| 2005 | $25.07 | -5.54% |
| 2006 | $23.19 | -7.52% |
| 2007 | $20.77 | -10.43% |
| 2008 | $19.48 | -6.20% |
| 2009 | $18.81 | -3.47% |
| 2010 | $17.79 | -5.40% |
| 2011 | $17.02 | -4.33% |
| 2012 | $16.37 | -3.82% |
| 2013 | $15.39 | -6.00% |
| 2014 | $15.03 | -2.29% |
| 2015 | $14.02 | -6.75% |
| 2016 | $13.70 | -2.26% |
| 2017 | $14.18 | 3.49% |
| 2018 | $13.67 | -3.63% |
| 2019 | $13.69 | 0.20% |
| 2020 | $14.38 | 5.03% |
| 2021 | $14.85 | 3.28% |
| 2022 | $15.47 | 4.18% |
| 2023 | $16.16 | 4.45% |
| 2024 | $17.56 | 8.66%* |
* 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 Photographic equipment and supplies:
| 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 |
| CPI | 76.100 | 78.562 | 82.023 | 91.423 | 95.177 | 98.331 | 99.946 | 101.746 | 103.515 | 107.738 | 114.954 | 120.285 | 125.708 | 128.654 | 130.962 | 133.123 | 134.500 | 132.323 | 133.423 | 133.685 | 134.023 | 133.023 | 130.262 | 126.377 | 123.792 | 118.592 | 112.569 | 104.262 | 98.485 | 91.077 | 81.582 | 76.524 | 73.869 | 69.881 | 66.853 | 64.297 | 60.442 | 59.057 | 55.073 | 53.827 | 55.706 | 53.682 | 53.791 | 56.496 | 58.348 | 60.787 | 63.491 | 68.987 |