According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for photography are 14.22% lower in 2025 versus 1997 (a $2.84 difference in value).
Between 1997 and 2025: Photography experienced an average inflation rate of -0.55% per year. In other words, photography costing $20 in the year 1997 would cost $17.16 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.49% during this same period, inflation for photography was significantly lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Photography, over time, for $20 beginning in 1997. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1997 | $20.00 | - |
| 1998 | $20.00 | 0.02% |
| 1999 | $19.89 | -0.58% |
| 2000 | $19.84 | -0.24% |
| 2001 | $19.80 | -0.19% |
| 2002 | $19.58 | -1.13% |
| 2003 | $19.19 | -1.97% |
| 2004 | $18.58 | -3.19% |
| 2005 | $18.08 | -2.69% |
| 2006 | $17.41 | -3.68% |
| 2007 | $16.52 | -5.14% |
| 2008 | $16.17 | -2.13% |
| 2009 | $16.20 | 0.21% |
| 2010 | $15.91 | -1.79% |
| 2011 | $15.91 | -0.01% |
| 2012 | $15.82 | -0.53% |
| 2013 | $15.45 | -2.35% |
| 2014 | $15.47 | 0.15% |
| 2015 | $15.05 | -2.78% |
| 2016 | $15.05 | 0.01% |
| 2017 | $15.19 | 0.98% |
| 2018 | $14.84 | -2.34% |
| 2019 | $14.71 | -0.89% |
| 2020 | $15.11 | 2.72% |
| 2021 | $15.45 | 2.26% |
| 2022 | $16.15 | 4.54% |
| 2023 | $17.03 | 5.44% |
| 2024 | $17.26 | 1.37% |
| 2025 | $17.16 | -0.62%* |
* 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 Photography:
| Year | 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 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 100.015 | 99.431 | 99.192 | 99.008 | 97.892 | 95.962 | 92.900 | 90.400 | 87.069 | 82.590 | 80.834 | 81.004 | 79.553 | 79.542 | 79.120 | 77.257 | 77.374 | 75.226 | 75.233 | 75.969 | 74.194 | 73.535 | 75.534 | 77.239 | 80.748 | 85.141 | 86.309 | 85.777 |