Price insights
How Household Product Prices Have Changed Since 2010
Between 2010 and 2025, overall US consumer prices rose +48%. Household products did not all follow the same path: 8 of the 19 product categories we track cost less in 2025 than in 2010, led by televisions (−88%), phones & phone hardware (−78%), computers & smart home (−54%).
Key findings
- Cheaper than in 2010: televisions (−88%), phones & phone hardware (−78%), computers & smart home (−54%), toys (−53%), audio equipment (−44%), cookware, tableware & decor (−22%).
- The other 11 categories rose, but by less than overall inflation, so they became cheaper in real terms.
All categories
| Category | Includes | 2010 to 2025 | After inflation | 2015 to 2025 | Browse |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Televisions | flat-screen and smart TVs | −87.7% | −91.6% | −70.8% | Electronics |
| Telephone hardware, calculators and other consumer information items | smartphones and phone accessories | −78.3% | −85.3% | −69.2% | Mobile & Computer Accessories |
| Computers, peripherals and smart home assistants | laptops, tablets, monitors, smart speakers | −54.5% | −69.2% | −27.4% | Mobile & Computer Accessories, Smart Home |
| Toys | toys, games and building sets | −53.0% | −68.1% | −37.7% | Toys/Games |
| Audio equipment | speakers, headphones, soundbars | −43.7% | −61.9% | −26.0% | Electronics |
| Other household equipment and furnishings | cookware, dishes, lamps, clocks, decor | −21.8% | −47.0% | −6.3% | Household & Appliances |
| Window and floor coverings and other linens | sheets, towels, rugs, curtains | −14.2% | −41.9% | +0.3% | Household & Appliances |
| Major appliances | refrigerators, washers, dryers, ranges | −8.9% | −38.3% | +1.0% | Household & Appliances |
| Other appliances | vacuums, coffee makers, blenders, microwaves | +0.2% | −32.1% | +8.7% | Household & Appliances, Coffee Makers |
| Sporting goods | sports and fitness equipment | +2.3% | −30.7% | +6.1% | Outdoors/ Sports/ Garden, Sports Wear & Gear, Sports Giftware & Collectibles |
| Household furnishings and supplies | the overall household goods basket | +8.9% | −26.3% | +14.8% | Household & Appliances |
| Apparel | clothing and accessories | +9.9% | −25.6% | +4.3% | Apparel & Accessories |
| Furniture and bedding | sofas, tables, mattresses | +10.8% | −25.0% | +15.7% | Household & Appliances |
| Personal care products | hair, skin and dental care, cosmetics | +11.8% | −24.3% | +10.3% | Health, Beauty & Personal Care, Makeup & Skin Care |
| Tools, hardware, outdoor equipment and supplies | power tools, hardware, lawn and garden | +23.2% | −16.5% | +24.0% | Tools, Outdoors/ Sports/ Garden, Faucet |
| Pets and pet products | pet food and supplies | +24.7% | −15.5% | +21.3% | Pet Supplies |
| Housekeeping supplies | cleaning products, paper goods, storage | +29.6% | −12.2% | +27.2% | Household & Appliances |
| Jewelry and watches | watches and jewelry | +33.4% | −9.6% | +27.0% | Jewelry |
| Food at home | groceries, including snacks and nutrition products | +45.1% | −1.7% | +29.3% | Food, Sports Nutrition & Protein, Diet & Nutrition |
| All items (overall inflation) | everything consumers buy | +47.6% | – | +35.8% | – |
Change between the annual average index of each year. "After inflation" compares a category with all consumer prices: negative means it got cheaper relative to everything else. Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, CPI-U, U.S. city average, data through September 2026.
Why some products got cheaper
The CPI compares like with like: when this year's TV is bigger, sharper or smarter than the 2010 model at a similar price, the statisticians count part of that improvement as a price fall. That quality adjustment is the main reason electronics show such large declines. Categories where products change little from year to year, such as linens, cookware or cleaning supplies, mostly track production and shipping costs instead.
What it means when you shop
- For electronics, a "deal" on last year's model is often beaten by the regular price of the new one within a year or two.
- For categories that rise faster than inflation, buying during the big sale seasons matters more: see when to buy.
- Check what a fair list price is for the kind of product you want in our price ranges by category.