Watches price inflation, 2002→2023

Watches Inflation Calculator

Prices for Watches, 2002-2023 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for watches are 33.80% higher in 2023 versus 2002 (a $6.76 difference in value).

Between 2002 and 2023: Watches experienced an average inflation rate of 1.40% per year. In other words, watches costing $20 in the year 2002 would cost $26.76 in 2023 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.49% during this same period, inflation for watches was lower.

In the year 2002: Pricing changed by -3.70%, which is significantly below the average yearly change for watches during the 2002-2023 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2002 (1.59%), inflation for watches was much 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 2002

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Watches, over time, for $20 beginning in 2002. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
2002	$20.00	-3.70%
2003	$19.46	-2.70%
2004	$19.88	2.17%
2005	$19.92	0.19%
2006	$20.19	1.35%
2007	$20.18	-0.02%
2008	$20.18	-0.03%
2009	$20.16	-0.07%
2010	$19.88	-1.39%
2011	$20.17	1.46%
2012	$20.45	1.41%
2013	$21.02	2.75%
2014	$21.13	0.52%
2015	$21.30	0.81%
2016	$22.40	5.16%
2017	$23.46	4.75%
2018	$23.90	1.90%
2019	$24.00	0.38%
2020	$24.79	3.33%
2021	$25.87	4.35%
2022	$26.35	1.85%
2023	$26.76	1.56%*

* 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:

Year	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
CPI	100.000	102.392	106.062	108.808	110.138	114.900	116.085	118.777	124.508	129.054	129.762	126.662	123.531	122.269	122.154	120.131	115.685	112.562	115.000	115.215	116.769	116.744	116.707	116.622	114.997	116.671	118.312	121.569	122.202	123.188	129.550	135.698	138.271	138.794	143.414	149.648	152.410	154.788

Adjust watches prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2023 / CPI in 2002 * 2002 USD value = 2023 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Watches was 115.685 in the year 2002 and 154.788 in 2023:

154.788 / 115.685 * $20 = $26.76

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 2002 has the same "purchasing power" as $26.76 in 2023 (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.