Watches price inflation, 2016→2026

Watches Inflation Calculator

Prices for Watches, 2016-2026 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for watches are 28.38% higher in 2026 versus 2016 (a $5.68 difference in value).

Between 2016 and 2026:Watches experienced an average inflation rate of 2.53% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, watches costing $20 in the year 2016 would cost $25.68 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.05% during this same period, inflation for watches was lower.

In the year 2016: Pricing changed by 5.16%, which is above the average yearly change for watches during the 2016-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 2016 (1.26%), inflation for watches was much higher.

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 (4.83%), and 2017 (4.75%).

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Buying power of $20.00 since 2016

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Watches, over time, for $20 beginning in 2016. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

Year	USD Value	Inflation Rate
2016	$20.00	5.16%
2017	$20.95	4.75%
2018	$21.35	1.90%
2019	$21.43	0.38%
2020	$22.14	3.33%
2021	$23.10	4.35%
2022	$23.53	1.85%
2023	$23.70	0.72%
2024	$24.42	3.04%
2025	$25.06	2.62%
2026	$25.68	2.47%*

* 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	2024	2025	2026
CPI	100.000	102.392	106.058	108.808	110.142	114.900	116.083	118.775	124.508	129.050	129.758	126.658	123.533	122.267	122.150	120.133	115.683	112.558	115.000	115.217	116.767	116.743	116.707	116.623	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	153.505	158.168	162.316	166.320

Adjust watches prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2026 / CPI in 2016* 2016 USD value = 2026 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Watches was 129.550 in the year 2016 and 166.320 in 2026:

166.320 / 129.550* $20 = $25.68

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 2016 has the same "purchasing power" as $25.68 in 2026 (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.