According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, prices for breakfast cereal are 327.28% higher in 2026 versus 1979 (a $65.46 difference in value).
Between 1979 and 2026:Breakfast cereal experienced an average inflation rate of 3.14% per year. This rate of change indicates significant inflation. In other words, breakfast cereal costing $20 in the year 1979 would cost $85.46 in 2026 for an equivalent purchase. Compared to the overall inflation rate of 3.24% during this same period, inflation for breakfast cereal was lower.
In the year 1979: Pricing changed by 9.64%, which is significantly above the average yearly change for breakfast cereal during the 1979-2026 time period. Compared to inflation for all items in 1979 (11.25%), inflation for breakfast cereal was lower.
Below are calculations of equivalent buying power for Breakfast cereal, over time, for $20 beginning in 1979. Each of the amounts below is equivalent in terms of what it could buy at the time:
| Year | USD Value | Inflation Rate |
|---|---|---|
| 1979 | $20.00 | 9.64% |
| 1980 | $22.91 | 14.57% |
| 1981 | $26.09 | 13.85% |
| 1982 | $28.46 | 9.08% |
| 1983 | $29.97 | 5.33% |
| 1984 | $31.62 | 5.50% |
| 1985 | $33.40 | 5.63% |
| 1986 | $35.19 | 5.36% |
| 1987 | $37.26 | 5.88% |
| 1988 | $39.91 | 7.10% |
| 1989 | $44.39 | 11.23% |
| 1990 | $47.60 | 7.23% |
| 1991 | $50.47 | 6.03% |
| 1992 | $52.66 | 4.35% |
| 1993 | $55.01 | 4.47% |
| 1994 | $57.22 | 4.00% |
| 1995 | $57.78 | 0.99% |
| 1996 | $57.04 | -1.29% |
| 1997 | $56.28 | -1.34% |
| 1998 | $57.02 | 1.32% |
| 1999 | $58.60 | 2.78% |
| 2000 | $59.42 | 1.40% |
| 2001 | $59.94 | 0.86% |
| 2002 | $60.95 | 1.68% |
| 2003 | $61.33 | 0.64% |
| 2004 | $61.10 | -0.39% |
| 2005 | $61.11 | 0.02% |
| 2006 | $60.01 | -1.79% |
| 2007 | $61.54 | 2.55% |
| 2008 | $63.68 | 3.48% |
| 2009 | $65.36 | 2.64% |
| 2010 | $64.60 | -1.17% |
| 2011 | $67.07 | 3.82% |
| 2012 | $68.47 | 2.10% |
| 2013 | $68.37 | -0.16% |
| 2014 | $68.69 | 0.47% |
| 2015 | $68.98 | 0.42% |
| 2016 | $68.22 | -1.11% |
| 2017 | $67.46 | -1.10% |
| 2018 | $66.24 | -1.81% |
| 2019 | $66.59 | 0.53% |
| 2020 | $67.47 | 1.32% |
| 2021 | $69.16 | 2.51% |
| 2022 | $77.83 | 12.52% |
| 2023 | $83.25 | 6.97% |
| 2024 | $83.30 | 0.06% |
| 2025 | $83.28 | -0.02% |
| 2026 | $85.46 | 2.62%* |
* 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 | 2025 | 2026 |
| CPI | 57.100 | 60.767 | 66.625 | 76.333 | 86.908 | 94.800 | 99.850 | 105.342 | 111.275 | 117.242 | 124.133 | 132.942 | 147.867 | 158.558 | 168.117 | 175.425 | 183.267 | 190.600 | 192.492 | 190.017 | 187.467 | 189.933 | 195.217 | 197.958 | 199.667 | 203.025 | 204.317 | 203.525 | 203.558 | 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 | 277.488 | 277.419 | 284.674 |