According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for telephone hardware, calculators, and other consumer information items are 91.90% lower in 2024 versus 1997 (a $18.38 difference in value).
Between 1997 and 2024: Telephone hardware, calculators, and other consumer information items experienced an average inflation rate of -8.89% per year. This rate of change indicates significant deflation. In other words, telephone hardware, calculators, and other consumer information items costing $20 in the year 1997 would cost $1.62 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.51% during this same period, inflation for telephone hardware, calculators, and other consumer information items was significantly lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Telephone hardware, calculators, and other consumer information items, over time, for $20 beginning in 1997. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | $20.00 | - |
| 1998 | $19.02 | -4.92% |
| 1999 | $16.89 | -11.20% |
| 2000 | $15.22 | -9.84% |
| 2001 | $13.67 | -10.23% |
| 2002 | $12.44 | -8.98% |
| 2003 | $11.10 | -10.75% |
| 2004 | $9.95 | -10.38% |
| 2005 | $9.16 | -7.96% |
| 2006 | $8.33 | -9.00% |
| 2007 | $7.72 | -7.34% |
| 2008 | $7.39 | -4.27% |
| 2009 | $7.06 | -4.47% |
| 2010 | $6.80 | -3.68% |
| 2011 | $6.57 | -3.38% |
| 2012 | $6.22 | -5.36% |
| 2013 | $5.91 | -4.95% |
| 2014 | $5.51 | -6.74% |
| 2015 | $4.79 | -13.03% |
| 2016 | $4.28 | -10.82% |
| 2017 | $4.04 | -5.41% |
| 2018 | $3.82 | -5.65% |
| 2019 | $3.26 | -14.50% |
| 2020 | $2.80 | -14.13% |
| 2021 | $2.36 | -15.90% |
| 2022 | $2.05 | -13.09% |
| 2023 | $1.78 | -12.84% |
| 2024 | $1.62 | -9.23%* |
* 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 Telephone hardware, calculators, and other consumer information items:
| 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 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 95.077 | 84.431 | 76.123 | 68.338 | 62.200 | 55.515 | 49.754 | 45.792 | 41.669 | 38.613 | 36.964 | 35.312 | 34.013 | 32.863 | 31.101 | 29.561 | 27.567 | 23.974 | 21.381 | 20.223 | 19.082 | 16.315 | 14.009 | 11.781 | 10.239 | 8.925 | 8.101 |