According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for sports equipment are 28.30% lower in 2025 versus 1998 (a $5.66 difference in value).
Between 1998 and 2025: Sports equipment experienced an average inflation rate of -1.22% per year. In other words, sports equipment costing $20 in the year 1998 would cost $14.34 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.52% during this same period, inflation for sports equipment was significantly lower.
In the year 1998: Pricing changed by -1.49%, which is below the average yearly change for sports equipment during the 1998-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1998 (1.55%), inflation for sports equipment was much lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Sports equipment, over time, for $20 beginning in 1998. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1998 | $20.00 | -1.49% |
| 1999 | $19.11 | -4.44% |
| 2000 | $18.41 | -3.66% |
| 2001 | $18.02 | -2.15% |
| 2002 | $17.55 | -2.60% |
| 2003 | $17.40 | -0.84% |
| 2004 | $17.19 | -1.19% |
| 2005 | $17.00 | -1.10% |
| 2006 | $16.79 | -1.28% |
| 2007 | $16.54 | -1.45% |
| 2008 | $16.93 | 2.34% |
| 2009 | $17.29 | 2.14% |
| 2010 | $16.78 | -2.97% |
| 2011 | $15.99 | -4.74% |
| 2012 | $15.80 | -1.16% |
| 2013 | $15.41 | -2.48% |
| 2014 | $15.04 | -2.36% |
| 2015 | $14.60 | -2.95% |
| 2016 | $14.41 | -1.31% |
| 2017 | $14.03 | -2.64% |
| 2018 | $13.66 | -2.63% |
| 2019 | $13.38 | -2.05% |
| 2020 | $13.31 | -0.53% |
| 2021 | $14.13 | 6.19% |
| 2022 | $14.98 | 5.98% |
| 2023 | $14.80 | -1.20% |
| 2024 | $14.58 | -1.44% |
| 2025 | $14.34 | -1.67%* |
* 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 Sports equipment:
| Year | 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 | 80.738 | 84.585 | 90.346 | 95.831 | 98.908 | 100.377 | 100.723 | 99.562 | 98.992 | 100.838 | 104.854 | 107.423 | 111.777 | 116.508 | 117.669 | 116.908 | 119.238 | 119.131 | 118.562 | 118.023 | 116.269 | 111.108 | 107.038 | 104.738 | 102.015 | 101.154 | 99.954 | 98.854 | 97.592 | 96.179 | 98.434 | 100.541 | 97.557 | 92.937 | 91.855 | 89.576 | 87.460 | 84.882 | 83.773 | 81.563 | 79.417 | 77.786 | 77.370 | 82.156 | 87.068 | 86.019 | 84.781 | 83.361 |