According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for sports equipment are 3.34% higher in 2025 versus 1978 (a $0.67 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2025: Sports equipment experienced an average inflation rate of 0.07% per year. In other words, sports equipment costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $20.67 in 2025 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.43% during this same period, inflation for sports equipment was significantly lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Sports equipment, over time, for $20 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | - |
| 1979 | $20.95 | 4.76% |
| 1980 | $22.38 | 6.81% |
| 1981 | $23.74 | 6.07% |
| 1982 | $24.50 | 3.21% |
| 1983 | $24.86 | 1.49% |
| 1984 | $24.95 | 0.34% |
| 1985 | $24.66 | -1.15% |
| 1986 | $24.52 | -0.57% |
| 1987 | $24.98 | 1.86% |
| 1988 | $25.97 | 3.98% |
| 1989 | $26.61 | 2.45% |
| 1990 | $27.69 | 4.05% |
| 1991 | $28.86 | 4.23% |
| 1992 | $29.15 | 1.00% |
| 1993 | $28.96 | -0.65% |
| 1994 | $29.54 | 1.99% |
| 1995 | $29.51 | -0.09% |
| 1996 | $29.37 | -0.48% |
| 1997 | $29.24 | -0.45% |
| 1998 | $28.80 | -1.49% |
| 1999 | $27.52 | -4.44% |
| 2000 | $26.51 | -3.66% |
| 2001 | $25.95 | -2.15% |
| 2002 | $25.27 | -2.60% |
| 2003 | $25.06 | -0.84% |
| 2004 | $24.76 | -1.19% |
| 2005 | $24.49 | -1.10% |
| 2006 | $24.17 | -1.28% |
| 2007 | $23.82 | -1.45% |
| 2008 | $24.38 | 2.34% |
| 2009 | $24.91 | 2.14% |
| 2010 | $24.17 | -2.97% |
| 2011 | $23.02 | -4.74% |
| 2012 | $22.75 | -1.16% |
| 2013 | $22.19 | -2.48% |
| 2014 | $21.67 | -2.36% |
| 2015 | $21.03 | -2.95% |
| 2016 | $20.75 | -1.31% |
| 2017 | $20.20 | -2.64% |
| 2018 | $19.67 | -2.63% |
| 2019 | $19.27 | -2.05% |
| 2020 | $19.17 | -0.53% |
| 2021 | $20.35 | 6.19% |
| 2022 | $21.57 | 5.98% |
| 2023 | $21.31 | -1.20% |
| 2024 | $21.00 | -1.44% |
| 2025 | $20.67 | -1.59%* |
* 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 Sports equipment:
| Year | 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 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | 2025 |
| CPI | 80.738 | 84.585 | 90.346 | 95.831 | 98.908 | 100.377 | 100.723 | 99.562 | 98.992 | 100.838 | 104.854 | 107.423 | 111.777 | 116.508 | 117.669 | 116.908 | 119.238 | 119.131 | 118.562 | 118.023 | 116.269 | 111.108 | 107.038 | 104.738 | 102.015 | 101.154 | 99.954 | 98.854 | 97.592 | 96.179 | 98.434 | 100.541 | 97.557 | 92.937 | 91.855 | 89.576 | 87.460 | 84.882 | 83.773 | 81.563 | 79.417 | 77.786 | 77.370 | 82.156 | 87.068 | 86.019 | 84.781 | 83.434 |