MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - Inflation and historical cost of paperbacks

Fbone · 10-15-2010, 07:07 PM

We hear and read many posts of the high costs of books. I thought I'd play with the inflation calculator at the BLS to see what has happened to the costs of paperbacks in relation to inflation [in the US.]

Unfortunately, I dont have enough data but this is what I found. [Updated with added data]

Using two science fiction mass market paperback books one printed in 1960 and the other 1980 these are the results.

1960 book costing $0.35 then would cost $2.58 in 2010 and $0.97 in 1980
1962 book costing $0.50 then would cost $3.62 in 2010 and $1.36 in 1980
1962 book costing $0.75 then would cost $5.42 in 2010 and $2.05 in 1980
1967 book costing $0.40 then would cost $2.62 in 2010 and $0.99 in 1980
1970 book costing $0.60 then would cost $3.38 in 2010 and $1.27 in 1980
1971 book costing $0.75 then would cost $4.05 in 2010 and $1.53 in 1980
1972 book costing $0.95 then would cost $4.96 in 2010 and $1.87 in 1980
1972 book costing $1.25 then would cost $6.53 in 2010 and $2.46 in 1980
1975 book costing $1.25 then would cost $5.08 in 2010 and $1.91 in 1980
1976 book costing $1.75 then would cost $6.72 in 2010 and $2.53 in 1980
1977 book costing $1.95 then would cost $7.03 in 2010
1977 book costing $2.50 then would cost $9.02 in 2010 and $3.40 in 1980
1979 book costing $1.95 then would cost $5.87 in 2010
1979 book costing $2.25 then would cost $6.77 in 2010
1980 book costing $2.95 then would cost $7.82 in 2010
1983 book costing $3.95 then would cost $8.66 in 2010
1984 book costing $2.75 then would cost $5.78 in 2010
1987 book costing $4.95 then would cost $9.52 in 2010

Both of these books would probably sell for $7.99 today.

So we can see from 1980 MMP prices have risen close to inflation.
But something happened between 1960 and 1980 causing sharp increase of ($0.97 to $2.95) almost triple rate of inflation.
It appears that something happened end of the 1970s to dramatically increase prices. They double in a few years and inflation doesnt account for all of it.

Please, if anyone has a paperback printed before 1980, could you post the date and cover price and I'll add to the list to see where prices went crazy. I suspect the publishing industry had a dramatic change in the 1970s.

Thanks.

Inflation rates from 1977-82
1977 = 6.5%
1978 = 7.6%
1979 = 11.3%
1980 = 13.5%
1981 = 10.3%
1982 = 6.2%

10-15-2010, 07:07 PM	#1
Fbone Is that a sandwich? Posts: 8,299 Karma: 101697116 Join Date: Jun 2010 Device: Nook Glowlight Plus	Inflation and historical cost of paperbacks We hear and read many posts of the high costs of books. I thought I'd play with the inflation calculator at the BLS to see what has happened to the costs of paperbacks in relation to inflation [in the US.] Unfortunately, I dont have enough data but this is what I found. [Updated with added data] Using two science fiction mass market paperback books one printed in 1960 and the other 1980 these are the results. 1960 book costing $0.35 then would cost $2.58 in 2010 and $0.97 in 1980 1962 book costing $0.50 then would cost $3.62 in 2010 and $1.36 in 1980 1962 book costing $0.75 then would cost $5.42 in 2010 and $2.05 in 1980 1967 book costing $0.40 then would cost $2.62 in 2010 and $0.99 in 1980 1970 book costing $0.60 then would cost $3.38 in 2010 and $1.27 in 1980 1971 book costing $0.75 then would cost $4.05 in 2010 and $1.53 in 1980 1972 book costing $0.95 then would cost $4.96 in 2010 and $1.87 in 1980 1972 book costing $1.25 then would cost $6.53 in 2010 and $2.46 in 1980 1975 book costing $1.25 then would cost $5.08 in 2010 and $1.91 in 1980 1976 book costing $1.75 then would cost $6.72 in 2010 and $2.53 in 1980 1977 book costing $1.95 then would cost $7.03 in 2010 1977 book costing $2.50 then would cost $9.02 in 2010 and $3.40 in 1980 1979 book costing $1.95 then would cost $5.87 in 2010 1979 book costing $2.25 then would cost $6.77 in 2010 1980 book costing $2.95 then would cost $7.82 in 2010 1983 book costing $3.95 then would cost $8.66 in 2010 1984 book costing $2.75 then would cost $5.78 in 2010 1987 book costing $4.95 then would cost $9.52 in 2010 Both of these books would probably sell for $7.99 today. So we can see from 1980 MMP prices have risen close to inflation. But something happened between 1960 and 1980 causing sharp increase of ($0.97 to $2.95) almost triple rate of inflation. It appears that something happened end of the 1970s to dramatically increase prices. They double in a few years and inflation doesnt account for all of it. Please, if anyone has a paperback printed before 1980, could you post the date and cover price and I'll add to the list to see where prices went crazy. I suspect the publishing industry had a dramatic change in the 1970s. Thanks. Inflation rates from 1977-82 1977 = 6.5% 1978 = 7.6% 1979 = 11.3% 1980 = 13.5% 1981 = 10.3% 1982 = 6.2% Last edited by Fbone; 10-16-2010 at 03:51 PM.