Let's take a trip back to the 1984 holiday season. Ronald Reagan was in the White House, Madonna was killing it in the charts, Dynasty was the top-rated TV show, and an insane amount of consumer goods were a whole lot more expensive than they are today. Using the Sears Christmas Wish Book as a guide, we reveal exactly how much a range of products cost back then when adjusted for inflation and compare them to prices of equivalent items sold on Amazon in 2019.

Several key factors including technological advances, improved manufacturing processes, fiercer competition, and cheap imports from China have combined to pull down the price of consumer goods in America. A major craze in 1984, 16-inch Cabbage Patch Kids dolls retailed for $26.99 a-piece, which translates to $66.65 in 2019 dollars. Today you can pick one up for just $49.99.

Craftsman DIY tools were a Sears catalog stalwart and unlike the iconic retailer, the brand is still going strong. Its nifty electric wall stud finder retailed at $18.74 in 1984, which is $46.28 in 2019 money. The equivalent product today, a far more technologically advanced version of course, is available on the Amazon site for a bargain $29.98.

A must-have back in the 1980s, the standard Swiss Army knife was priced at $29.99 in 1984. Adjusted for inflation, this works out at $74.06, which is considerably more expensive than an equivalent knife available via Amazon that can be snapped up for just $39.99.

A marble pastry board is an essential piece of kit for any amateur baker. Sears sold an 18-inch by 18-inch board for $19.99 back in 2019. In today's dollars, the figure is $49.36. Right now a similar-sized version by Greenco is listed on the Amazon site priced at only $25.69.

This popular two-player game was all the rage in the 1980s. Back in 1984 the plastic plaything sold via the Sears catalog for $7.99. When adjusted for inflation the price tag is $19.70. These days Connect 4 retails for $6.89 on Amazon, making it significantly more affordable today.

Staying with kitchenware, a fine 16-inch wide wood bread box from Sears would have set you back $24.99 in 1984. That's a not-so-affordable $61.71 in today's money. An equivalent acacia wood bread box manufactured by Lipper International is on sale via Amazon at the current time for $29.99.

Toasted sandwich makers were all the rage back in the 1980s and customers didn't think twice about paying through the nose to get hold of one. Back in 1984 Sears was selling an Oster model for $29.99, which is $74.06 in 2019 dollars. The modern equivalent from the same company costs just $34.99.

A favorite among 1980s kids, Mr Potato Head has enjoyed something of a revival thanks to its appearance in the Toy Story movies. In 1984 the toy was priced at $5.99 in the Sears Christmas Wish Book. That's $14.79 in today's money. Right now you can pick one up on Amazon for only $6.88.

The seductive cologne with the cheesiest name ever, Jovan Sex Appeal was the fragrance of choice for men who couldn't stretch to Paco Rabanne or Aramis. Sears sold the four-ounce bottle for a cool $10 in 1984. Adjusted for inflation, it cost $24.69. Nowadays you can snag the scent online for just $10.98.

Gas grills didn't come cheap back in 1984. Boasting a 400-square-inch cooking area, Sears' flagship outdoor broiler came in at $279.98, a wallet-busting $691.38 in 2019 money. Today, grills of the same size are a lot more affordable. This high-quality Char-Broil beauty is available via Amazon for only $299.99.

Top of every time-pressed businessman's wish list (please excuse the pun), the Corby pants press sold like hotcakes during the 1980s. The contraption was priced at $179.99 in the 1984 Sears holiday catalog. That works out at $444.47 when adjusted for inflation. Today you can bag one on Amazon for just $185.36.

DIY tools have dropped in price big-time since the 1980s. Craftsman continues to make the three-piece mini pliers set that was available from Sears in 1984 priced at $15.74 or $41.46 in 2019 dollars. Today the pliers, which now rock snazzy red handles, cost just $16.79.

Home bakers rave about the quality of KitchenAid food mixers but tend to bemoan their enormous price tags, yet the classic mixer, which is produced by Whirlpool, has plummeted in price since the 1980s. In 1984 it retailed via Sears for $219.99, a pricey $543.24 in today's money. At the current time you can buy one from Amazon for $199.99.

A dream gift for the budding astronomer, this 450x refractor telescope had a price tag of $99.99 in 1984. Adjusted for inflation, that translates to $246.92. Nowadays a telescope with the same spec costs just $85.99 making the 1984 version 187% more expensive.

Sears' entry-level two-slice toaster cost the same as a premium model today if you factor in inflation. Back in 1984 the basic model cost $19.99, which is $49.36 in 2019 money. A similar no-frills toaster today can be bought from Amazon for only $16.83.

The electric shaver was by no means a new technology in the 1980s but the typical model was pretty expensive. A Norelco razor features in the 1984 Sears Christmas Wish Book priced at $49.99. That's $123.45 when adjusted for inflation. In contast, the modern equivalent costs just $39.96.

Many a teen in 1984 owned a pair of roller skates and Roller Derby made the very best. The company continues to churn them out today. Back then a pair of hightop skates retailed via the Sears catalog for $64.95, which is a chunky $160.39 in 2019 money. Today a similar pair by the company costs only $50.94.

If you want to rustle up diner-style waffles at home, a waffler is of course mandatory but back in 1984 this piece of kitchen kit wasn't cheap. In fact, a basic non-stick waffle maker from Sears cost $19.99. That's $49.36 in 2019 dollars. Right now you can order one from Amazon for just $14.96.

In 1984 Sears' most affordable upright vacuum cleaner was priced at $127.99, which is $316.06 when adjusted for inflation. Budget versions just didn't exist back then. Today this Bissell bagless model is on sale via Amazon for just $89.96.

For those who didn't want to commit to a perm, a curling iron was the way forward to achieve the 1980s big hair look. At the time Sears sold an Andis curling iron for $16.99. That's $41.96 in 2019 money. Today an equivalent styler by Andis costs only $11.75.

It took some serious saving or borrowing if you wanted to invest in an eight-foot pool table back in 1984 with Sears listing a quality table for $1,199.98, which is a whopping $2,963.23 in today's money. Fast-forward 35 years and you can buy a solid wood table of the same size from Amazon for just $829.99.

Like Cabbage Patch Kids dolls, Care Bear soft toys were a massive craze back in 1984 and the manufacturer and retailers certainly took advantage of their popularity if prices are anything to go by. Back then a 13-inch Care Bear cost $14.99 or $37.02 in 2019 money. The modern equivalent retails for just $9.99 on Amazon.

Read about 50 Christmas presents that are now worth a fortune

Almost every 1980s kid from the geekiest to the coolest wanted a Speak & Spell back in 1984. If you never got one, it was no doubt due to the gizmo's price tag of $39.99, which translates to a steep $98.75 in today's dollars. At the current time the educational toy is on sale via Amazon for just $24.99.

Mr. Coffee introduced the world's first automatic drip coffee machine in 1974 and by 1984 the gadget had long overtaken the percolator as the coffee maker of choice in American homes. Back then the company's 12-cup coffee maker retailed at Sears for $49.99 or $123.45 in 2019 money. Today a Mr. Coffee 12-cup machine costs just $28.74.

Hailing from Canada, the Trivial Pursuit board game launched in 1981 and peaked in popularity in North America in 1984 when 20,000 units were sold. At the time the game cost $26.99, which is $66.95 when adjusted for inflation. Today Amazon sells the classic version for only $15.23.

Read about the Most expensive toys ever sold at auction

You needed plenty of cash to purchase a Kenmore sewing machine back in 1984. The model that featured in the Sears Christmas Wish Book was priced at $167.99. Factoring in inflation, that translates to $414.84. Nowadays you can buy a similar Kenmore sewing machine from Amazon for a very affordable $64.99.

TVs have grown in size and dropped enormously in price over the years. Back in 1984 the cheapest 19-inch color TV set from Sears cost $339.99, which is $839.57 in 2019 dollars. Today you can buy a flat-screen TV of the same size for just $119 on Amazon.

In 1984 the Sunbeam iron that featured in the Sears catalog cost $49.99. That's a budget-hammering $123.45 when adjusted for inflation. The modern equivalent by the same manufacturer is priced at just $16.99 on Amazon at the current time, and has a multitude of extra features.

It's not hard to figure out why the microwave oven was such a status symbol back in 1984 given the typical price tag. Sears sold this Kenmore model measuring 0.9 cubic-feet for $249.99. That's a punishing $617.33 in today's money. Right now you can buy a Kenmore microwave of the same size for just $59.49 on Amazon.

A real showstopper, Sears was selling a vintage popcorn cart back in 1984 for a staggering $1,499.99, which translates to $3,704.08 in 2019 dollars. Today a similar-sized cart crafted from more or less the same materials is available on Amazon for just $176.72.

Discover Surprisingly valuable things from the year you were born