According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for breakfast cereal are 356.08% higher in 2024 versus 1978 (a $71.22 difference in value).
Between 1978 and 2024: Breakfast cereal experienced an average inflation rate of 3.35% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, breakfast cereal costing $20 in the year 1978 would cost $91.22 in 2024 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.47% during this same period, inflation for breakfast cereal was lower.
In the year 1978: Pricing changed by 6.43%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for breakfast cereal during the 1978-2024 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1978 (7.63%), inflation for breakfast cereal was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Breakfast cereal, over time, for $20 beginning in 1978. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1978 | $20.00 | 6.43% |
| 1979 | $21.93 | 9.63% |
| 1980 | $25.12 | 14.57% |
| 1981 | $28.60 | 13.86% |
| 1982 | $31.20 | 9.08% |
| 1983 | $32.86 | 5.33% |
| 1984 | $34.67 | 5.49% |
| 1985 | $36.62 | 5.64% |
| 1986 | $38.59 | 5.36% |
| 1987 | $40.85 | 5.87% |
| 1988 | $43.75 | 7.10% |
| 1989 | $48.67 | 11.23% |
| 1990 | $52.18 | 7.23% |
| 1991 | $55.33 | 6.03% |
| 1992 | $57.73 | 4.35% |
| 1993 | $60.32 | 4.47% |
| 1994 | $62.73 | 4.00% |
| 1995 | $63.35 | 0.99% |
| 1996 | $62.54 | -1.29% |
| 1997 | $61.70 | -1.34% |
| 1998 | $62.51 | 1.31% |
| 1999 | $64.25 | 2.78% |
| 2000 | $65.15 | 1.41% |
| 2001 | $65.71 | 0.86% |
| 2002 | $66.82 | 1.68% |
| 2003 | $67.24 | 0.64% |
| 2004 | $66.98 | -0.39% |
| 2005 | $66.99 | 0.02% |
| 2006 | $65.79 | -1.79% |
| 2007 | $67.47 | 2.55% |
| 2008 | $69.82 | 3.48% |
| 2009 | $71.66 | 2.64% |
| 2010 | $70.82 | -1.17% |
| 2011 | $73.53 | 3.82% |
| 2012 | $75.07 | 2.10% |
| 2013 | $74.96 | -0.16% |
| 2014 | $75.31 | 0.47% |
| 2015 | $75.63 | 0.42% |
| 2016 | $74.79 | -1.11% |
| 2017 | $73.96 | -1.10% |
| 2018 | $72.62 | -1.81% |
| 2019 | $73.00 | 0.53% |
| 2020 | $73.97 | 1.32% |
| 2021 | $75.83 | 2.51% |
| 2022 | $85.33 | 12.52% |
| 2023 | $91.27 | 6.97% |
| 2024 | $91.22 | -0.06%* |
* 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 Breakfast cereal:
| Year | 1977 | 1978 | 1979 | 1980 | 1981 | 1982 | 1983 | 1984 | 1985 | 1986 | 1987 | 1988 | 1989 | 1990 | 1991 | 1992 | 1993 | 1994 | 1995 | 1996 | 1997 | 1998 | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
| CPI | 57.100 | 60.769 | 66.623 | 76.331 | 86.908 | 94.800 | 99.854 | 105.338 | 111.277 | 117.246 | 124.131 | 132.938 | 147.869 | 158.562 | 168.115 | 175.423 | 183.269 | 190.600 | 192.492 | 190.015 | 187.469 | 189.931 | 195.215 | 197.962 | 199.669 | 203.023 | 204.315 | 203.523 | 203.562 | 199.908 | 205.014 | 212.149 | 217.745 | 215.189 | 223.415 | 228.107 | 227.752 | 228.825 | 229.784 | 227.242 | 224.739 | 220.660 | 221.819 | 224.751 | 230.401 | 259.258 | 277.333 | 277.157 |