Photography priced at $20 in 2004 $18.64 in 2024

Photography Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Photography, 2004-2024 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for photography are 6.82% lower in 2024 versus 2004 (a $1.36 difference in value).

Between 2004 and 2024: Photography experienced an average inflation rate of -0.35% per year. In other words, photography costing $20 in the year 2004 would cost $18.64 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.56% during this same period, inflation for photography was lower.

In the year 2004: Pricing changed by -3.19%, which is below the average yearly change for photography during the 2004-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2004 (2.68%), inflation for photography was much 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 2004

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Photography, over time, for $20 beginning in 2004. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
2004$20.00-3.19%
2005$19.46-2.69%
2006$18.74-3.68%
2007$17.78-5.14%
2008$17.40-2.13%
2009$17.440.21%
2010$17.13-1.79%
2011$17.12-0.01%
2012$17.03-0.53%
2013$16.63-2.35%
2014$16.660.15%
2015$16.20-2.78%
2016$16.200.01%
2017$16.360.98%
2018$15.97-2.34%
2019$15.83-0.89%
2020$16.262.72%
2021$16.632.26%
2022$17.384.54%
2023$18.335.44%
2024$18.641.68%*

* 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 2004 * 2004 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Photography was 92.900 in the year 2004 and 86.568 in 2024:

86.568 / 92.900 * $20 = $18.64

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 2004 has the same "purchasing power" as $18.64 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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