According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for recreational reading materials are 276.26% higher in 2025 versus 1980 (a $55.25 difference in value).
Between 1980 and 2025: Recreational reading materials experienced an average inflation rate of 2.99% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, recreational reading materials costing $20 in the year 1980 would cost $75.25 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.05% during this same period, inflation for recreational reading materials was lower.
In the year 1980: Pricing changed by 10.90%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for recreational reading materials during the 1980-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1980 (13.55%), inflation for recreational reading materials was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Recreational reading materials, over time, for $20 beginning in 1980. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1980 | $20.00 | 10.90% |
| 1981 | $22.12 | 10.58% |
| 1982 | $24.29 | 9.84% |
| 1983 | $26.05 | 7.23% |
| 1984 | $26.90 | 3.26% |
| 1985 | $28.50 | 5.94% |
| 1986 | $29.77 | 4.45% |
| 1987 | $30.76 | 3.35% |
| 1988 | $32.00 | 4.00% |
| 1989 | $33.35 | 4.23% |
| 1990 | $35.05 | 5.11% |
| 1991 | $37.26 | 6.29% |
| 1992 | $38.84 | 4.25% |
| 1993 | $40.21 | 3.54% |
| 1994 | $41.53 | 3.28% |
| 1995 | $43.28 | 4.21% |
| 1996 | $45.42 | 4.93% |
| 1997 | $46.09 | 1.47% |
| 1998 | $47.40 | 2.86% |
| 1999 | $47.91 | 1.07% |
| 2000 | $48.47 | 1.17% |
| 2001 | $49.29 | 1.68% |
| 2002 | $50.40 | 2.26% |
| 2003 | $50.85 | 0.89% |
| 2004 | $51.79 | 1.86% |
| 2005 | $52.50 | 1.36% |
| 2006 | $52.86 | 0.70% |
| 2007 | $53.38 | 0.97% |
| 2008 | $54.57 | 2.24% |
| 2009 | $56.71 | 3.91% |
| 2010 | $56.81 | 0.18% |
| 2011 | $56.54 | -0.48% |
| 2012 | $57.64 | 1.94% |
| 2013 | $59.72 | 3.61% |
| 2014 | $60.93 | 2.03% |
| 2015 | $61.96 | 1.69% |
| 2016 | $61.96 | -0.01% |
| 2017 | $62.19 | 0.37% |
| 2018 | $63.41 | 1.97% |
| 2019 | $65.80 | 3.76% |
| 2020 | $68.73 | 4.46% |
| 2021 | $70.46 | 2.52% |
| 2022 | $73.28 | 4.00% |
| 2023 | $73.53 | 0.34% |
| 2024 | $74.17 | 0.87% |
| 2025 | $75.25 | 1.46%* |
* 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 | 2025 |
| 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 | 288.096 | 292.300 |