Computer software and accessories priced at $20 in 1997 $4.66 in 2024

Computer Software And Accessories Inflation Calculator

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Prices for Computer Software And Accessories, 1997-2024 ($20)

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for computer software and accessories are 76.72% lower in 2024 versus 1997 (a $15.34 difference in value).

Between 1997 and 2024: Computer software and accessories experienced an average inflation rate of -5.26% per year. This rate of change indicates significant deflation. In other words, computer software and accessories costing $20 in the year 1997 would cost $4.66 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.46% during this same period, inflation for computer software and accessories was significantly lower.

Price Inflation for Computer software and accessories since 1997

Consumer Price Index, U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Years with the largest changes in pricing: 2020 (-10.58%), 2003 (-8.88%), and 2019 (-7.99%).

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Buying power of $20.00 since 1997

Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Computer software and accessories, over time, for $20 beginning in 1997. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:

YearUSD ValueInflation Rate
1997$20.00-
1998$19.10-4.52%
1999$17.68-7.41%
2000$17.09-3.37%
2001$15.82-7.40%
2002$14.80-6.49%
2003$13.48-8.88%
2004$12.49-7.38%
2005$11.79-5.59%
2006$11.08-6.03%
2007$10.50-5.19%
2008$10.13-3.56%
2009$9.99-1.38%
2010$9.29-7.04%
2011$8.61-7.26%
2012$8.20-4.82%
2013$7.71-5.91%
2014$7.40-4.04%
2015$7.36-0.60%
2016$6.87-6.57%
2017$6.60-3.91%
2018$6.43-2.64%
2019$5.92-7.99%
2020$5.29-10.58%
2021$5.19-1.86%
2022$5.10-1.68%
2023$4.81-5.83%
2024$4.66-3.14%*

* 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 Computer software and accessories:

Year1997199819992000200120022003200420052006200720082009201020112012201320142015201620172018201920202021202220232024
CPI100.00095.48588.40885.43179.10873.97767.40862.43158.93855.38552.51250.64149.94346.42943.05740.98038.55837.00136.77934.36333.01932.14729.57726.44925.95825.52124.03323.278

Adjust computer software and accessories prices for inflation

Start with the inflation rate formula:

CPI in 2024 / CPI in 1997 * 1997 USD value = 2024 USD value

Then plug in historical CPI values from above. The CPI for Computer software and accessories was 100.000 in the year 1997 and 23.278 in 2024:

23.278 / 100.000 * $20 = $4.66

Therefore, according to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, $20 in 1997 has the same "purchasing power" as $4.66 in 2024 (in the CPI category of Computer software and accessories).


Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics began tracking the Consumer Price Index for Computer software and accessories in 1997. In addition to computer software and accessories, the index produces monthly data on changes in prices paid by urban consumers for a variety of goods and services.

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