According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for toys are 74.80% lower in 2025 versus 1988 (a $14.96 difference in value).
Between 1988 and 2025: Toys experienced an average inflation rate of -3.66% per year. This rate of change indicates significant deflation. In other words, toys costing $20 in the year 1988 would cost $5.04 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.74% during this same period, inflation for toys was significantly lower.
In the year 1988: Pricing changed by 5.54%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for toys during the 1988-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1988 (4.08%), inflation for toys was higher.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Toys, over time, for $20 beginning in 1988. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1988 | $20.00 | 5.54% |
| 1989 | $20.85 | 4.24% |
| 1990 | $21.24 | 1.89% |
| 1991 | $21.39 | 0.72% |
| 1992 | $21.73 | 1.59% |
| 1993 | $22.04 | 1.41% |
| 1994 | $22.37 | 1.50% |
| 1995 | $22.28 | -0.40% |
| 1996 | $22.85 | 2.55% |
| 1997 | $22.82 | -0.12% |
| 1998 | $21.67 | -5.03% |
| 1999 | $20.39 | -5.92% |
| 2000 | $19.08 | -6.45% |
| 2001 | $18.13 | -4.95% |
| 2002 | $16.99 | -6.31% |
| 2003 | $15.81 | -6.90% |
| 2004 | $15.06 | -4.79% |
| 2005 | $14.03 | -6.82% |
| 2006 | $13.39 | -4.54% |
| 2007 | $12.76 | -4.70% |
| 2008 | $12.09 | -5.27% |
| 2009 | $11.44 | -5.40% |
| 2010 | $10.70 | -6.48% |
| 2011 | $10.23 | -4.37% |
| 2012 | $9.71 | -5.06% |
| 2013 | $9.19 | -5.37% |
| 2014 | $8.61 | -6.27% |
| 2015 | $8.08 | -6.25% |
| 2016 | $7.41 | -8.27% |
| 2017 | $6.75 | -8.94% |
| 2018 | $6.10 | -9.59% |
| 2019 | $5.62 | -7.77% |
| 2020 | $5.26 | -6.43% |
| 2021 | $5.26 | 0.03% |
| 2022 | $5.37 | 1.95% |
| 2023 | $5.31 | -1.05% |
| 2024 | $5.05 | -4.94% |
| 2025 | $5.04 | -0.16%* |
* 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 Toys:
| 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 | 73.100 | 75.523 | 79.815 | 86.554 | 93.231 | 98.562 | 100.208 | 101.231 | 101.438 | 102.454 | 104.792 | 110.600 | 115.285 | 117.462 | 118.308 | 120.192 | 121.885 | 123.715 | 123.215 | 126.354 | 126.200 | 119.854 | 112.762 | 105.492 | 100.269 | 93.938 | 87.454 | 83.262 | 77.585 | 74.062 | 70.584 | 66.866 | 63.255 | 59.153 | 56.566 | 53.706 | 50.822 | 47.636 | 44.657 | 40.965 | 37.303 | 33.724 | 31.105 | 29.106 | 29.114 | 29.681 | 29.368 | 27.916 | 27.870 |