According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for audio equipment were 70.11% lower in 2020 versus 1977 (a $14.02 difference in value).
Between 1977 and 2020: Audio equipment experienced an average inflation rate of -2.77% per year. This rate of change indicates significant deflation. In other words, audio equipment costing $20 in the year 1977 would cost $5.98 in 2020 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.43% during this same period, inflation for audio equipment was significantly lower.
Raw Consumer Price Index data from U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics for Audio equipment:
| 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 |
| CPI | 89.700 | 92.377 | 95.554 | 97.685 | 100.846 | 101.992 | 100.300 | 97.708 | 94.408 | 91.738 | 93.038 | 92.654 | 92.800 | 93.154 | 94.615 | 94.369 | 93.877 | 93.785 | 92.054 | 90.723 | 88.938 | 85.177 | 81.708 | 80.162 | 77.177 | 73.362 | 69.500 | 65.969 | 60.562 | 57.338 | 54.130 | 51.568 | 48.919 | 47.342 | 45.140 | 42.021 | 39.927 | 38.014 | 36.003 | 34.226 | 31.393 | 27.038 | 27.256 | 26.810 |
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Audio equipment, over time, for $20 beginning in 1977. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1977 | $20.00 | - |
| 1978 | $20.60 | 2.98% |
| 1979 | $21.31 | 3.44% |
| 1980 | $21.78 | 2.23% |
| 1981 | $22.49 | 3.24% |
| 1982 | $22.74 | 1.14% |
| 1983 | $22.36 | -1.66% |
| 1984 | $21.79 | -2.58% |
| 1985 | $21.05 | -3.38% |
| 1986 | $20.45 | -2.83% |
| 1987 | $20.74 | 1.42% |
| 1988 | $20.66 | -0.41% |
| 1989 | $20.69 | 0.16% |
| 1990 | $20.77 | 0.38% |
| 1991 | $21.10 | 1.57% |
| 1992 | $21.04 | -0.26% |
| 1993 | $20.93 | -0.52% |
| 1994 | $20.91 | -0.10% |
| 1995 | $20.52 | -1.85% |
| 1996 | $20.23 | -1.45% |
| 1997 | $19.83 | -1.97% |
| 1998 | $18.99 | -4.23% |
| 1999 | $18.22 | -4.07% |
| 2000 | $17.87 | -1.89% |
| 2001 | $17.21 | -3.72% |
| 2002 | $16.36 | -4.94% |
| 2003 | $15.50 | -5.26% |
| 2004 | $14.71 | -5.08% |
| 2005 | $13.50 | -8.20% |
| 2006 | $12.78 | -5.32% |
| 2007 | $12.07 | -5.60% |
| 2008 | $11.50 | -4.73% |
| 2009 | $10.91 | -5.14% |
| 2010 | $10.56 | -3.22% |
| 2011 | $10.06 | -4.65% |
| 2012 | $9.37 | -6.91% |
| 2013 | $8.90 | -4.98% |
| 2014 | $8.48 | -4.79% |
| 2015 | $8.03 | -5.29% |
| 2016 | $7.63 | -4.94% |
| 2017 | $7.00 | -8.28% |
| 2018 | $6.03 | -13.87% |
| 2019 | $6.08 | 0.81% |
| 2020 | $5.98 | -1.64%* |