Then vs. now: How prices have changed since 1999

Remember the giddy year of 1999, when many of us were convinced we were entering the new millennium and everyone was panicking about the Y2K bug?

During the subsequent decade, the stock market made us rich as kings, then poor as church mice. We've taken a look back to see how the years have affected the price of 50 things we buy, or wish we could buy. Thanks to inflation, it takes around $1.30 to buy what $1 bought in 1999.

You'll note that some items, such as an iMac, a home mortgage and Hummel figurines are relative bargains compared to their 1999 prices. Others, however, such as a Superman comic book, a gallon of gas or a trip to the observation deck of the Empire State Building have skyrocketed.