Watches priced at $20 in 1988 $30.24 in 2025

Watches Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Watches, 1988-2025 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for watches are 51.22% higher in 2025 versus 1988 (a $10.24 difference in value).

Between 1988 and 2025: Watches experienced an average inflation rate of 1.12% per year. In other words, watches costing $20 in the year 1988 would cost $30.24 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.72% during this same period, inflation for watches was lower.

In the year 1988: Pricing changed by 3.58%, which is above the average yearly change for watches during the 1988-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1988 (4.08%), inflation for watches was lower.

Price Inflation for Watches since 1986

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2016 (5.16%), 1994 (4.82%), and 2017 (4.75%).

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Buying power of $20.00 since 1988

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Watches, over time, for $20 beginning in 1988. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1988$20.003.58%
1989$20.522.59%
1990$20.771.22%
1991$21.674.32%
1992$21.891.03%
1993$22.402.32%
1994$23.484.82%
1995$24.343.65%
1996$24.470.55%
1997$23.88-2.39%
1998$23.29-2.47%
1999$23.06-1.02%
2000$23.03-0.09%
2001$22.65-1.66%
2002$21.81-3.70%
2003$21.23-2.70%
2004$21.692.17%
2005$21.730.19%
2006$22.021.35%
2007$22.01-0.02%
2008$22.01-0.03%
2009$21.99-0.07%
2010$21.69-1.39%
2011$22.001.46%
2012$22.311.41%
2013$22.922.75%
2014$23.040.52%
2015$23.230.81%
2016$24.435.16%
2017$25.594.75%
2018$26.071.90%
2019$26.170.38%
2020$27.043.33%
2021$28.224.35%
2022$28.741.85%
2023$28.950.72%
2024$29.833.04%
2025$30.241.40%*

* 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 Watches:

Year1986198719881989199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022202320242025
CPI100.000102.392106.062108.808110.138114.900116.085118.777124.508129.054129.762126.662123.531122.269122.154120.131115.685112.562115.000115.215116.769116.744116.707116.622114.997116.671118.312121.569122.202123.188129.550135.698138.271138.794143.414149.648152.410153.505158.168160.384

Adjust watches prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2025 / CPI in 1988 * 1988 USD value = 2025 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Watches was 106.062 in the year 1988 and 160.384 in 2025:

160.384 / 106.062 * $20 = $30.24

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1988 has the same "purchasing power" as $30.24 in 2025 (in the CPI category of Watches).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Watches in 1986. In addition to watches, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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