Photography priced at $20 in 1998 $17.31 in 2024

Photography Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Photography, 1998-2024 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for photography are 13.45% lower in 2024 versus 1998 (a $2.69 difference in value).

Between 1998 and 2024: Photography experienced an average inflation rate of -0.55% per year. In other words, photography costing $20 in the year 1998 would cost $17.31 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.54% during this same period, inflation for photography was significantly lower.

In the year 1998: Pricing changed by 0.02%, which is above the average yearly change for photography during the 1998-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1998 (1.55%), inflation for photography was lower.

Price Inflation for Photography since 1997

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2023 (5.44%), 2007 (-5.14%), and 2022 (4.54%).

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Buying power of $20.00 since 1998

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Photography, over time, for $20 beginning in 1998. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1998$20.000.02%
1999$19.88-0.58%
2000$19.84-0.24%
2001$19.80-0.19%
2002$19.58-1.13%
2003$19.19-1.97%
2004$18.58-3.19%
2005$18.08-2.69%
2006$17.41-3.68%
2007$16.52-5.14%
2008$16.16-2.13%
2009$16.200.21%
2010$15.91-1.79%
2011$15.91-0.01%
2012$15.82-0.53%
2013$15.45-2.35%
2014$15.470.15%
2015$15.04-2.78%
2016$15.040.01%
2017$15.190.98%
2018$14.84-2.34%
2019$14.70-0.89%
2020$15.102.72%
2021$15.452.26%
2022$16.154.54%
2023$17.035.44%
2024$17.311.68%*

* 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 Photography:

Year1997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI100.000100.01599.43199.19299.00897.89295.96292.90090.40087.06982.59080.83481.00479.55379.54279.12077.25777.37475.22675.23375.96974.19473.53575.53477.23980.74885.14186.568

Adjust photography prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2024 / CPI in 1998 * 1998 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Photography was 100.015 in the year 1998 and 86.568 in 2024:

86.568 / 100.015 * $20 = $17.31

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1998 has the same "purchasing power" as $17.31 in 2024 (in the CPI category of Photography).


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

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