According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for film and photographic supplies are 26.76% higher in 2016 versus 1997 (a $26.76 difference in value).
Between 1997 and 2016: Photography supplies experienced an average inflation rate of 1.26% per year. In other words, photography supplies costing $100 in the year 1997 would cost $126.76 in 2016 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 2.14% during this same period, inflation for photography supplies was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Photography supplies, over time, for $100 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 | $100.00 | - |
| 1998 | $100.22 | 0.22% |
| 1999 | $98.80 | -1.41% |
| 2000 | $97.08 | -1.74% |
| 2001 | $96.52 | -0.58% |
| 2002 | $94.28 | -2.33% |
| 2003 | $91.40 | -3.05% |
| 2004 | $88.51 | -3.16% |
| 2005 | $88.38 | -0.15% |
| 2006 | $85.89 | -2.81% |
| 2007 | $85.77 | -0.14% |
| 2008 | $86.97 | 1.40% |
| 2009 | $88.67 | 1.96% |
| 2010 | $89.64 | 1.10% |
| 2011 | $91.32 | 1.87% |
| 2012 | $98.43 | 7.78% |
| 2013 | $101.62 | 3.24% |
| 2014 | $124.92 | 22.93% |
| 2015 | $125.83 | 0.73% |
| 2016 | $126.76 | 0.74%* |
* 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 Film and photographic supplies:
| Year | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 |
| CPI | 100.000 | 100.215 | 98.800 | 97.085 | 96.523 | 94.277 | 91.400 | 88.508 | 88.377 | 85.892 | 85.770 | 86.968 | 88.671 | 89.644 | 91.319 | 98.428 | 101.620 | 124.919 | 125.830 | 126.756 |