According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for recorded music and music subscriptions are 2.35% higher in 2025 versus 2018 (a $0.47 difference in value).
Between 2018 and 2025: Recorded music and music subscriptions experienced an average inflation rate of 0.33% per year. In other words, recorded music and music subscriptions costing $20 in the year 2018 would cost $20.47 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for recorded music and music subscriptions was significantly lower.
In the year 2018: Pricing changed by -2.85%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for recorded music and music subscriptions during the 2018-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2018 (2.44%), inflation for recorded music and music subscriptions was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Recorded music and music subscriptions, over time, for $20 beginning in 2018. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | $20.00 | -2.85% |
| 2019 | $19.19 | -4.05% |
| 2020 | $18.62 | -2.97% |
| 2021 | $18.54 | -0.46% |
| 2022 | $18.56 | 0.11% |
| 2023 | $19.25 | 3.72% |
| 2024 | $19.89 | 3.33% |
| 2025 | $20.47 | 2.94%* |
* 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 Recorded music and music subscriptions:
| Year | 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 | 2025 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 99.762 | 101.254 | 102.131 | 106.600 | 105.654 | 108.300 | 108.662 | 109.723 | 107.600 | 105.475 | 103.502 | 98.885 | 94.128 | 91.728 | 88.818 | 89.225 | 89.316 | 87.427 | 85.586 | 88.224 | 85.706 | 82.233 | 79.793 | 79.429 | 79.518 | 82.476 | 85.219 | 87.721 |