According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for recreational reading materials are 312.59% higher in 2024 versus 1979 (a $62.52 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 2024: Recreational reading materials experienced an average inflation rate of 3.20% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, recreational reading materials costing $20 in the year 1979 would cost $82.52 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.30% during this same period, inflation for recreational reading materials was lower.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 7.53%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for recreational reading materials during the 1979-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.26%), 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 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $20.00 | 7.53% |
| 1980 | $22.18 | 10.90% |
| 1981 | $24.53 | 10.58% |
| 1982 | $26.94 | 9.84% |
| 1983 | $28.89 | 7.23% |
| 1984 | $29.83 | 3.26% |
| 1985 | $31.60 | 5.94% |
| 1986 | $33.01 | 4.45% |
| 1987 | $34.12 | 3.35% |
| 1988 | $35.48 | 4.00% |
| 1989 | $36.98 | 4.23% |
| 1990 | $38.88 | 5.11% |
| 1991 | $41.32 | 6.29% |
| 1992 | $43.07 | 4.25% |
| 1993 | $44.60 | 3.54% |
| 1994 | $46.06 | 3.28% |
| 1995 | $48.00 | 4.21% |
| 1996 | $50.37 | 4.93% |
| 1997 | $51.11 | 1.47% |
| 1998 | $52.57 | 2.86% |
| 1999 | $53.14 | 1.07% |
| 2000 | $53.76 | 1.17% |
| 2001 | $54.66 | 1.68% |
| 2002 | $55.90 | 2.26% |
| 2003 | $56.39 | 0.89% |
| 2004 | $57.44 | 1.86% |
| 2005 | $58.22 | 1.36% |
| 2006 | $58.63 | 0.70% |
| 2007 | $59.20 | 0.97% |
| 2008 | $60.53 | 2.24% |
| 2009 | $62.89 | 3.91% |
| 2010 | $63.01 | 0.18% |
| 2011 | $62.71 | -0.48% |
| 2012 | $63.92 | 1.94% |
| 2013 | $66.23 | 3.61% |
| 2014 | $67.58 | 2.03% |
| 2015 | $68.72 | 1.69% |
| 2016 | $68.72 | -0.01% |
| 2017 | $68.97 | 0.37% |
| 2018 | $70.33 | 1.97% |
| 2019 | $72.97 | 3.76% |
| 2020 | $76.23 | 4.46% |
| 2021 | $78.15 | 2.52% |
| 2022 | $81.27 | 4.00% |
| 2023 | $81.55 | 0.34% |
| 2024 | $82.52 | 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 |