According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for recreational reading materials are 343.67% higher in 2024 versus 1978 (a $68.73 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2024: Recreational reading materials experienced an average inflation rate of 3.29% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, recreational reading materials costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $88.73 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for recreational reading materials was lower.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 2.90%, which is below the average yearly change for recreational reading materials during the 1978-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for recreational reading materials was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Recreational reading materials, 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 | 2.90% |
| 1979 | $21.51 | 7.53% |
| 1980 | $23.85 | 10.90% |
| 1981 | $26.37 | 10.58% |
| 1982 | $28.97 | 9.84% |
| 1983 | $31.07 | 7.23% |
| 1984 | $32.08 | 3.26% |
| 1985 | $33.98 | 5.94% |
| 1986 | $35.50 | 4.45% |
| 1987 | $36.69 | 3.35% |
| 1988 | $38.16 | 4.00% |
| 1989 | $39.77 | 4.23% |
| 1990 | $41.80 | 5.11% |
| 1991 | $44.43 | 6.29% |
| 1992 | $46.32 | 4.25% |
| 1993 | $47.96 | 3.54% |
| 1994 | $49.53 | 3.28% |
| 1995 | $51.62 | 4.21% |
| 1996 | $54.16 | 4.93% |
| 1997 | $54.96 | 1.47% |
| 1998 | $56.53 | 2.86% |
| 1999 | $57.14 | 1.07% |
| 2000 | $57.81 | 1.17% |
| 2001 | $58.78 | 1.68% |
| 2002 | $60.11 | 2.26% |
| 2003 | $60.64 | 0.89% |
| 2004 | $61.77 | 1.86% |
| 2005 | $62.61 | 1.36% |
| 2006 | $63.05 | 0.70% |
| 2007 | $63.66 | 0.97% |
| 2008 | $65.09 | 2.24% |
| 2009 | $67.63 | 3.91% |
| 2010 | $67.75 | 0.18% |
| 2011 | $67.43 | -0.48% |
| 2012 | $68.74 | 1.94% |
| 2013 | $71.22 | 3.61% |
| 2014 | $72.67 | 2.03% |
| 2015 | $73.90 | 1.69% |
| 2016 | $73.89 | -0.01% |
| 2017 | $74.16 | 0.37% |
| 2018 | $75.63 | 1.97% |
| 2019 | $78.47 | 3.76% |
| 2020 | $81.97 | 4.46% |
| 2021 | $84.03 | 2.52% |
| 2022 | $87.40 | 4.00% |
| 2023 | $87.70 | 0.34% |
| 2024 | $88.73 | 1.19%* |
* 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 Recreational reading materials:
| 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 | 63.300 | 65.138 | 70.046 | 77.685 | 85.900 | 94.354 | 101.177 | 104.477 | 110.685 | 115.615 | 119.492 | 124.277 | 129.531 | 136.154 | 144.715 | 150.862 | 156.200 | 161.331 | 168.115 | 176.408 | 179.008 | 184.123 | 186.100 | 188.285 | 191.438 | 195.769 | 197.508 | 201.177 | 203.915 | 205.338 | 207.330 | 211.981 | 220.277 | 220.671 | 219.613 | 223.884 | 231.969 | 236.675 | 240.685 | 240.665 | 241.549 | 246.308 | 255.569 | 266.970 | 273.690 | 284.650 | 285.616 | 289.002 |