Watches priced at $20 in 1996 $24.89 in 2025

Watches Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Watches, 1996-2025 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for watches are 24.43% higher in 2025 versus 1996 (a $4.89 difference in value).

Between 1996 and 2025: Watches experienced an average inflation rate of 0.76% per year. In other words, watches costing $20 in the year 1996 would cost $24.89 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.48% during this same period, inflation for watches was lower.

In the year 1996: Pricing changed by 0.55%, which is below the average yearly change for watches during the 1996-2025 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1996 (2.93%), 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 1996

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Watches, over time, for $20 beginning in 1996. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1996$20.000.55%
1997$19.52-2.39%
1998$19.04-2.47%
1999$18.85-1.02%
2000$18.83-0.09%
2001$18.52-1.66%
2002$17.83-3.70%
2003$17.35-2.70%
2004$17.722.17%
2005$17.760.19%
2006$18.001.35%
2007$17.99-0.02%
2008$17.99-0.03%
2009$17.97-0.07%
2010$17.72-1.39%
2011$17.981.46%
2012$18.241.41%
2013$18.742.75%
2014$18.830.52%
2015$18.990.81%
2016$19.975.16%
2017$20.924.75%
2018$21.311.90%
2019$21.390.38%
2020$22.103.33%
2021$23.074.35%
2022$23.491.85%
2023$23.660.72%
2024$24.383.04%
2025$24.892.08%*

* 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
CPI100.000102.392106.062108.808110.138114.900116.085118.777124.508129.054129.762126.662123.531122.269122.154120.131115.685112.562115.000115.215116.769116.744116.707116.622114.997116.671118.312121.569122.202123.188129.550135.698138.271138.794143.414149.648152.410153.505158.168161.465

Adjust watches prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2025 / CPI in 1996 * 1996 USD value = 2025 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Watches was 129.762 in the year 1996 and 161.465 in 2025:

161.465 / 129.762 * $20 = $24.89

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1996 has the same "purchasing power" as $24.89 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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